ife to the consolation
of a despised woman. Leaning on the arm of Lord Montfort, Henrietta
Temple might meet the eye of Ferdinand Armine and his rich bride, at
least without feeling herself an object of pity!

Time had flown. The Italian spring, with all its splendour, illumined
the glittering palaces and purple shores of Naples. Lord Montfort and
his friends were returning from Capua in his galley. Miss Temple was
seated between her father and their host. The Ausonian clime, the
beautiful scene, the sweet society, had all combined to produce a day of
exquisite enjoyment. Henrietta Temple could not refrain from expressing
her delight. Her eye sparkled like the star of eve that glittered over
the glowing mountains; her cheek was as radiant as the sunset.

'Ah! what a happy day this has been!' she exclaimed.

The gentle pressure of her hand reminded her of the delight her
exclamation had afforded one of her companions. With a trembling heart
Lord Montfort leant back in the galley; and yet, ere the morning sun
had flung its flaming beams over the city, Henrietta Temple was his
betrothed.

BOOK VI.

CHAPTER I.

_Which Contains a Remarkable Change of Fortune_.

ALTHOUGH Lord Montfort was now the received and recognised admirer
of Miss Temple, their intended union was not immediate. Henrietta was
herself averse from such an arrangement, but it was not necessary
for her to urge this somewhat ungracious desire, as Lord Montfort
was anxious that she should be introduced to his family before their
marriage, and that the ceremony should be performed in his native
country. Their return to England, therefore, was now meditated. The
event was hastened by an extraordinary occurrence.

Good fortune in this world, they say, is seldom single. Mr. Temple at
this moment was perfectly content with his destiny. Easy in his own
circumstances, with his daughter's future prosperity about to be
provided for by an union with the heir to one of the richest peerages
in the kingdom, he had nothing to desire. His daughter was happy, he
entertained the greatest esteem and affection for his future son-in-law,
and the world went well with him in every respect.

It was in this fulness of happiness that destiny, with its usual wild
caprice, resolved 'to gild refined gold and paint the lily;' and it was
determined that Mr. Temple should wake one morning among the wealthiest
commoners of England.

There happened to be an old ba