COLONEL MORLEY.--"A violent attack of croup,--quite sudden. He was
staying at Carr's at the time. I suspect that Carr made him talk! a
thing he was not accustomed to do. Deranged his system altogether. But
don't let us revive painful subjects."

DARRELL.--"Was she with him at the time?"

COLONEL MORLEY.--"Lady Montfort? No; they were very seldom together."

DARRELL.--"She is not married again yet?"

COLONEL MORLEY.--"No, but still young and so beautiful she will have
many offers. I know those who are waiting to propose. Montfort has been
only dead eighteen months; died just before young Carr's marriage.
His widow lives, in complete seclusion, at her jointure-house near
Twickenham. She has only seen even me once since her loss."

DARRELL.--"When was that?"

MORLEY.--"About six or seven months ago; she asked after you with much
interest."

DARRELL.--"After me!"

COLONEL MORLEY.--"To be sure. Don't I remember how constantly she and
her mother were at your house? Is it strange that she should ask after
you? You ought to know her better,--the most affectionate, grateful
character."

DARRELL.--"I dare say. But at the time you refer to, I was too occupied
to acquire much accurate knowledge of a young lady's character. I should
have known her mother's character better, yet I mistook even that."

COLONEL MORLEY.--"Mrs. Lyndsay's character you might well
mistake,--charming but artificial: Lady Montfort is natural. Indeed, if
you had not that illiberal prejudice against widows, she was the very
person I was about to suggest to you."

DARRELL.--"A fashionable beauty! and young enough to be my daughter.
Such is human friendship! So the marquisate is extinct, and Sir James
Vipont, whom I remember in the House of Commons--respectable man,
great authority on cattle, timid, and always saying, 'Did you read that
article in to-day's paper?'--has the estates and the earldom?"

COLONEL MORLEY.--"Yes. There was some fear of a disputed succession, but
Sir James made his claim very clear. Between you and me, the change has
been a serious affliction to the Viponts. The late lord was not wise,
but on state occasions he looked his part,--_tres grand seigneur_,--and
Carr managed the family influence with admirable tact. The present lord
has the habits of a yeoman; his wife shares his tastes. He has taken the
management not only of the property, but of its influence, out of Carr's
hands, and will make a sad mess of it, for he is an im