h notions regarding people of rank: her
long-suffering towards them was extreme; in fact, there were vices which
the old lady thought pardonable, and even natural, in a young nobleman
of high station, which she never would have excused in persons of vulgar
condition.

Her ladyship's little knot of associates and scandal-bearers--elderly
roues and ladies of the world, whose business it was to know all sorts
of noble intrigues and exalted tittle-tattle; what was happening among
the devotees of the exiled court at Frobsdorf; what among the citizen
princes of the Tuileries; who was the reigning favourite of the Queen
Mother at Aranjuez; who was smitten with whom at Vienna or Naples;
and the last particulars of the chroniques scandaleuses of Paris and
London;--Lady Kew, I say, must have been perfectly aware of my Lord
Farintosh's amusements, associates, and manner of life, and yet she
never, for one moment, exhibited any anger or dislike towards that
nobleman. Her amiable heart was so full of kindness and forgiveness
towards the young prodigal that, even without any repentance on his
part, she was ready to take him to her old arms, and give him her
venerable benediction. Pathetic sweetness of nature! Charming tenderness
of disposition! With all his faults and wickednesses, his follies
and his selfishness, there was no moment when Lady Kew would not have
received the young lord, and endowed him with the hand of her darling
Ethel.

But the hopes which this fond forgiving creature had nurtured for one
season, and carried on so resolutely to the next, were destined to
be disappointed yet a second time, by a most provoking event, which
occurred in the Newcome family. Ethel was called away suddenly from
Paris by her father's third and last paralytic seizure. When she reached
her home, Sir Brian could not recognise her. A few hours after her
arrival, all the vanities of the world were over for him: and Sir Barnes
Newcome, Baronet, reigned in his stead. The day after Sir Brian was laid
in his vault at Newcome--a letter appeared in the local papers addressed
to the Independent Electors of that Borough, in which his orphan son,
feelingly alluding to the virtue, the services, and the political
principles of the deceased, offered himself as a candidate for the seat
in Parliament now vacant. Sir Barnes announced that he should speedily
pay his respects in person to the friends and supporters of his lamented
father. That he was a staunc