nt of George towards the window here alarmed Grounsell,
and he noiselessly withdrew, and descended the stairs again.

"A precious mess of trouble do I find ready for me," muttered he, as he
passed across the courtyard. "Debt, duelling, and sickness, such are
the pleasures that welcome me; and these not the worst, perhaps, if the
causes of them were to be made known!"

"My Lady has just heard of your arrival, doctor, and begs you will have
the kindness to step up to her room," said Proctor, coming to meet him.

"I 'm tired, I 'm fatigued. Say I 'm in bed," said Grounsell, angrily.

"Her maid has just seen you, sir," suggested Proctor, mildly.

"No matter; give the answer I tell you; or stay perhaps it would be
better to see her. Yes, Proctor, show me the way." And muttering to
himself, "The meeting will not be a whit pleasanter for her than me," he
followed the servant up the stairs.

Well habituated to Lady Hester's extravagant and costly tastes,
Grounsell was yet unprepared for the gorgeous decorations and splendid
ornaments of the chambers through which he passed, and he stopped
from time to time in amazement to contemplate a magnificence which was
probably rather heightened than diminished by the uncertain light of the
candles the servant carried. He peered at the china vases; he passed his
hand across the malachite and jasper tables; he narrowly inspected the
rich mosaics, as though doubtful of their being genuine; and then, with
a deep sigh, almost deep enough to be a groan, he moved on in sadness.
A bust of Kate Dalton the work of a great sculptor, and an admirable
likeness caught his eye, and he gazed at it with signs of strong
emotion. There was much beauty in it, and of a character all her own;
but still the cold marble had caught up, in traits sterner than those of
life, the ambitious bearing of the head and the proud elevation of the
brow.

"And she has become this already!" said he, half aloud. "Oh, how
unlike poor Nelly's model! how different from the simple and beauteous
innocence of those saint-like features!"

"My Lady will see you, sir," said Celestine, breaking in upon his
musings. And he followed her into the chamber, where, seated in a deeply
cushioned chair, Lady Hester reclined, dressed in all the perfection of
an elegant deshabille.

Grounsell was, assuredly, not the man to be most taken by such
attractions, yet he could not remain entirely insensible to them; and he
felt a most awkward