e some to whom that
mad hastening from pleasure to pleasure, that rush from scene to scene
of excitement, that eager crowding into one day and night of gaieties
which might fairly relieve the placid monotony of a month's domesticity,
a month's professional work--some there are to whom this Vanity Fair is
as a treadmill or the turning of a crank, the felon's deepest
humiliation, purposeless, unprofitable, labour.

The regatta was over, and Lady Kirkbank and her charge hastened back to
Arlington Street. Theirs was the very first departure; albeit Mr.
Smithson pleaded hard for a prolongation of their visit. The weather was
exceptionally lovely, he urged. Water picnics were delightful just
now--the banks were alive with the colour of innumerable wild flowers,
as beautiful and more poetical than the gorgeous flora of the Amazon or
the Paraguay river. And Lady Lesbia had developed a genius for punting;
and leaning against her pole, with her hair flying loose and sleeves
rolled up above the elbow, she was a subject for canvas or marble,
Millais or Adams Acton.

'When we are in Italy I will have her modelled, just in that attitude,
and that dress,' said Mr. Smithson. 'She will make a lovely companion
for my Reading Girl: one all repose and reverie, the other all life and
action. Dear Lady Kirkbank, you really must stay for another week at
least. Why go back to the smoke and sultriness of town? Here we can
almost live on the water; and I will send to London for some people to
make music for us in the evenings, or if you miss your little game at
"Nap," we will play for an hour or so every night. It shall not be my
fault if my house is not pleasant for you.'

'Your house is charming, and I shall be here only too often in the days
to come; you will have more than enough of me _then_, I promise you,'
replied Georgie, with her girlish laugh, 'but we must not stop a day
longer now. People would begin to talk. Besides, we have engagements for
every hour of the week that is coming, and for a fortnight after: and
then I suppose I ought to take Lesbia to the North to see her
grandmother, and to discuss all the preparations and arrangements for
this very serious event in which you and Lesbia are to be the chief
performers.'

'I shall be very glad to go to Grasmere myself, and to make the
acquaintance of my future grandmother-in-law,' said Mr. Smithson.

'You will be charmed with her. She belongs to the old school--something
of a foss