rted a little from that placid and even constrained demeanour which
generally characterised him. His manner was gay and flowing; and he
poured out a goblet of Monte Pulciano and presented it to Miss Temple.

'You must pour a libation,' he said, 'to the nymph of the fane.'

CHAPTER IV.

_Showing That It Is the First Step That Is Ever the Most
Difficult_.

ABOUT a week after this visit to the villa, Mr. Temple and his daughter
were absolutely induced to accompany Lord Montfort to Rome. It is
impossible to do justice to the tender solicitude with which he made
all the arrangements for the journey. Wherever they halted they found
preparations for their reception; and so admirably had everything been
concerted, that Miss Temple at length found herself in the Eternal City
with almost as little fatigue as she had reached the Tuscan villa.

The palace of Lord Montfort was in the most distinguished quarter of the
city, and situate in the midst of vast gardens full of walls of laurel,
arches of ilex, and fountains of lions. They arrived at twilight,
and the shadowy hour lent even additional space to the huge halls and
galleries. Yet in the suite of rooms intended for Mr. Temple and his
daughter, every source of comfort seemed to have been collected. The
marble floors were covered with Indian mats and carpets, the windows
were well secured from the air which might have proved fatal to an
invalid, while every species of chair and couch, and sofa, courted the
languid or capricious form of Miss Temple, and she was even favoured
with an English stove, and guarded by an Indian screen. The apartments
were supplied with every book which it could have been supposed might
amuse her; there were guitars of the city and of Florence, and even an
English piano; a library of the choicest music; and all the materials
of art. The air of elegance and cheerful comfort that pervaded these
apartments, so unusual in this land, the bright blaze of the fire, evert
the pleasant wax-lights, all combined to deprive the moment of that
feeling of gloom and exhaustion which attends an arrival at a strange
place at a late hour, and Henrietta looked around her, and almost
fancied she was once more at Ducie. Lord Montfort introduced his
fellow-travellers to their apartments, presented to them the servant
who was to assume the management of their little household, and then
reminding them of their mutual promises that they were to be entirely
t