o the heir; but Ongar Park was supposed to be the most delightful small
country-seat anywhere within thirty miles of London. It lay among the
Surrey hills, and all the world had heard of the charms of Ongar Park.
If Julia were to survive her lord, Ongar Park was to be hers; and they
who saw them both together had but little doubt that she would come to
the enjoyment of this clause in her settlement. Lady Clavering had been
clever in arranging the match; and Sir Hugh, though he might have been
unwilling to give his sister-in-law money out of his own pocket had
performed his duty as a brother-in-law in looking to her future welfare.
Julia Brabazon had no doubt that she was doing well. Poor Harry
Clavering! She had loved him in the days of her romance. She, too, had
written her sonnets. But she had grown old earlier in life than he had
done, and had taught herself that romance could not be allowed to a
woman in her position. She was highly born, the daughter of a peer,
without money, and even without a home to which she had any claim. Of
course she had accepted Lord Ongar, but she had not put out her hand to
take all these good things without resolving that she would do her duty
to her future lord. The duty would be doubtless disagreeable, but she
would do it with all the more diligence on that account.

September passed by, hecatombs of partridges were slaughtered, and the
day of the wedding drew nigh. It was pretty to see Lord Ongar and the
self-satisfaction which he enjoyed at this time. The world was becoming
young with him again, and he thought that he rather liked the
respectability of his present mode of life. He gave himself but scanty
allowances of wine, and no allowance of anything stronger than wine, and
did not dislike his temperance. There was about him at all hours an air
which seemed to say, "There; I told you all that I could do it as soon
as there was any necessity." And in these halcyon days he could shoot
for an hour without his pony, and he liked the gentle, courteous
badinage which was bestowed upon his courtship, and he liked also
Julia's beauty. Her conduct to him was perfect. She was never pert,
never exigeant, never romantic, and never humble. She never bored him,
and yet was always ready to be with him when he wished it. She was never
exalted; and yet she bore her high place as became a woman nobly born
and acknowledged to be beautiful.

"I declare you have quite made a lover of him," said Lady Cl