self Duc d'Ivry if he chose, but he was
indifferent as to the matter, and his wife's friends indignant at the
idea that their kinswoman, after having been a Princess, should descend
to the rank of a mere Duchess. So Prince and Princess these good folks
remained, being exceptions to that order, inasmuch as their friends
could certainly put their trust in them.

On his father's death Florac went to Paris, to settle the affairs of the
paternal succession; and, having been for some time absent in his native
country, returned to Rosebury for the winter, to resume that sport of
which he was a distinguished amateur. He hunted in black during the
ensuing season; and, indeed, henceforth laid aside his splendid attire
and his allurements as a young man. His waist expanded, or was no longer
confined by the cestus which had given it a shape. When he laid aside
his black, his whiskers, too, went into a sort of half-mourning, and
appeared in grey. "I make myself old, my friend," he said, pathetically;
"I have no more neither twenty years nor forty." He went to Rosebury
Church no more; but, with great order and sobriety, drove every
Sunday to the neighbouring Catholic chapel at C---- Castle. We had an
ecclesiastic or two to dine with us at Rosebury, one of whom I inclined
to think was Florac's director.

A reason, perhaps, for Paul's altered demeanour, was the presence of
his mother at Rosebury. No politeness or respect could be greater than
Paul's towards the Countess. Had she been a sovereign princess, Madame
de Florac could not have been treated with more profound courtesy than
she now received from her son. I think the humble-minded lady could
have dispensed with some of his attentions; but Paul was a personage who
demonstrated all his sentiments, and performed his various parts in life
with the greatest vigour. As a man of pleasure, for instance, what more
active roue than he? As a jeune homme, who could be younger, and for
a longer time? As a country gentleman, or an l'homme d'affaires, he
insisted upon dressing each character with the most rigid accuracy, and
an exactitude that reminded one somewhat of Bouffe, or Ferville, at the
play. I wonder whether, when is he quite old, he will think proper to
wear a pigtail, like his old father? At any rate, that was a good part
which the kind fellow was now acting, of reverence towards his widowed
mother, and affectionate respect for her declining days. He not only
felt these amiable se