a plan,' continued his lordship, in a somewhat
hesitating tone; 'I wish I could induce you and Miss Temple to visit me
at Rome.'

Mr. Temple shrugged his shoulders, and sighed.

'I feel confident that a residence at Rome would benefit Miss Temple,'
said his lordship, in a voice a little less calm than usual. 'There is
much to see, and I would take care that she should see it in a manner
which would not exhaust her. It is the most delightful climate, too, at
this period. The sun shines here to-day, but the air of these hills at
this season is sometimes treacherous. A calm life, with a variety of
objects, is what she requires. Pisa is calm, but for her it is too dull.
Believe me, there is something in the blended refinement and interest
of Rome that she would find exceedingly beneficial. She would see no one
but ourselves; society shall be at her command if she desire it.'

'My dear lord,' said Mr. Temple, 'I thank you from the bottom of my
heart for all your considerate sympathy; but I cannot flatter myself
that Henrietta could avail herself of your really friendly offer. My
daughter is a great invalid. She------'

But here Miss Temple joined them.

'We have a relic of a delicate temple here,' said Lord Montfort,
directing her gaze to another window. 'You see it now to advantage;
the columns glitter in the sun. There, perhaps, was worshipped some
wood-nymph, or some river-god.'

The first classic ruin that she had yet beheld attracted the attention
of Miss Temple. It was not far, and she acceded to the proposition
of Lord Montfort to visit it. That little ramble was delightful. The
novelty and the beauty of the object greatly interested her. It was
charming also to view it under the auspices of a guide so full of
information and feeling.

'Ah!' said Lord Montfort, 'if I might only be your cicerone at Rome!'

'What say you, Henrietta?' said Mr. Temple, with a smile. 'Shall we go
to Rome?'

The proposition did not alarm Miss Temple as much as her father
anticipated. Lord Montfort pressed the suggestion with delicacy; he
hinted at some expedients by which the journey might be rendered not
very laborious. But as she did not reply, his lordship did not press the
subject; sufficiently pleased, perhaps, that she had not met it with an
immediate and decided negative.

When they returned to the villa they found a collation prepared for them
worthy of so elegant an abode. In his capacity of a host, Lord Montfort
depa