wn your
lordship's real character," Miss O'G was pleased to say, "no tortures
would have induced me to do an act for which I have undergone penance.
It was that black-hearted woman, my lord, who maligned your lordship
to me: that woman whom I called friend once, but who is the most false,
depraved, and dangerous of her sex." In this way do ladies' companions
sometimes speak of ladies when quarrels separate them, when confidential
attendants are dismissed, bearing away family secrets in their minds,
and revenge in their hearts.

The day after Miss Ethel's feats at the assembly, old Lady Kew went over
to advise her granddaughter, and to give her a little timely warning
about the impropriety of flirtations; above all, with such men as are
to be found at watering-places, persons who are never seen elsewhere in
society. "Remark the peculiarities of Kew's temper, who never flies into
a passion like you and me, my dear," said the old lady (being determined
to be particularly gracious and cautious); "when once angry he remains
so, and is so obstinate that it is almost impossible to coax him into
good-humour. It is much better, my love, to be like us," continued the
old lady, "to fly out in a rage and have it over; but que voulez-vous?
such is Frank's temper, and we must manage him." So she went on, backing
her advice by a crowd of examples drawn from the family history; showing
how Kew was like his grandfather, her own poor husband; still more like
his late father, Lord Walham; between whom and his mother there had been
differences, chiefly brought on by my Lady Walham, of course, which had
ended in the almost total estrangement of mother and son. Lady Kew then
administered her advice, and told her stories with Ethel alone for a
listener; and in a most edifying manner, she besought Miss Newcome
to menager Lord Kew's susceptibilities, as she valued her own future
comfort in life, as well as the happiness of a most amiable man, of
whom, if properly managed, Ethel might make what she pleased. We have
said Lady Kew managed everybody, and that most of the members of her
family allowed themselves to be managed by her ladyship.

Ethel, who had permitted her grandmother to continue her sententious
advice, while she herself sat tapping her feet on the floor, and
performing the most rapid variations of that air which is called the
Devil's Tattoo, burst out, at length, to the elder lady's surprise, with
an outbreak of indignation, a flus