,
and she disappeared; but instead of Henrietta, there came forward from
the old Place-----the duchess, who immediately enquired whether he had
seen his cousin; and then her Grace, by some confused process common in
dreams, turned into Glastonbury, and pointed to the rose-tree, where, to
his surprise, Katherine was walking with Lord Montfort. Ferdinand called
out for Henrietta, but, as she did not appear, he entered the Place,
where he found Count Mirabel dining by himself, and just drinking
a glass of champagne. He complained to Mirabel that Henrietta had
disappeared, but his friend laughed at him, and said that, after such a
long ride, leaving Italy only yesterday, he could scarcely expect to see
her. Satisfied with this explanation, Ferdinand joined the Count at his
banquet, and was awakened from his sleep, and his dream apparently, by
Mirabel drawing a cork.

Ah! why did he ever wake? It was so real; he had seen her so plainly; it
was life; it was the very smile she wore at Ducie; that sunny glance, so
full of joy, beauty, and love, which he could live to gaze on! And now
he was in prison, and she was going to be married to another. Oh! there
are things in this world that may well break hearts!

The cork of Count Mirabel was, however, a substantial sound, a gentle
tap at his door: he answered it, and the waiter entered his chamber.

'Beg pardon, sir, for disturbing you; only eight o'clock.'

'Then why the deuce do you disturb me?' 'There has been another nob,
sir. I said as how you were not up, and he sent his compliments,
and said as how he would call in an hour, as he wished to see you
particular.' 'Was it the Count?'

'No, sir; but it was a regular nob, sir, for he had a coronet on his
cab. But he would not leave his name.'

'Catch, of course,' thought Ferdinand to himself. 'And sent by Mirabel.
I should not wonder, if after all, they have broken the bank at
Crocky's. Nothing shall induce me to take a ducat.'

However, Ferdinand thought fit to rise, and contrived to descend to the
best drawing-room about a quarter of an hour after the appointed time.
To his extreme surprise he found Lord Montfort.

'My dear friend,' said Lord Montfort, looking a little confused; 'I am
afraid I have sadly disturbed you. But I could not contrive to find you
yesterday until it was so late that I was ashamed to knock them up here,
and I thought, therefore, you would excuse this early call, as, as, as,
I wished to see you ver