Belles and Ringers

what a fool he had made of himself. What did he, a man who had already developed a capacity for expenditure much in excess of his income, want with a wife who brought little or no grist to the mill

the "broken brigade," and vanished from society's ken. As it was, the pretty little house in Hans Place throve merrily; and though people constantly wonder

invitation to Mrs. Wriothesley's occasional little suppers after the play was by no means to be neglected; the two or three plats were always of the best, and the "Rip" took care that Giessler's "Brut" should be unimpeachable. They had both a weakness for race-meetings; but Wriothesley's plunging days were over, and his modest ventures were staked with considerably more discretion than in the times when he bet heavily. The lady was a little bit of a coquette, no doubt; but the most unscrupulous of scandalmongers had never ventured to breathe a word of reproach against Mrs. Wriothesley. A flirting, husband-hunting

drawing-room listening to Sylla Chipchase's spi

till, that I was setting my cap at Lionel Beauchamp. She had no idea that we had known each other fro

thing, Sylla. Lionel Beauchamp wo

e for Lionel in that way any more than he would care for me. I am only eighteen,

y, speculative a little animal at your age as you could wish to see; and what came of it? I forgot all my prudent res

ly, and glancing round at the china and other knicknacks scattered about

to have had my country seat, my box at the opera, my two or three

Mr. Cottrell told me that you and Lady Mary

for the season, Mary Bloxam at that time was trailing that grenadier eldest girl of hers about" (a little bit of feminine exaggeration this, the lady referred to being only half an inch ta

and I suppose you have

t she saw very little

reat friend of both mine and the 'Rip's,' and we see a good deal of him when he is in London; and, indeed," she continued, laughing, "for the matter of that, when he is not; for he has a way

an's mind that her favourite, Jim Bloxam, would make a most suitable husband for her niece. Jim was an eldest son, and Todborough, from all accounts, a very respectable property. Yes, it would do very well if it could be brought about, to say nothing of the satisfaction ther

ptain Bloxam. True, he was not quite so good a parti as the other; but it was comforting to think that there was every probability that it would occasion her old antagonist equal annoyance. It further struck her that, engrossed in her plans for her daughter, Lady Mary would pr

ing in upon her aunt's reverie. "They should be plea

orld will all have gone home to luncheon before we get to the

ine day after Easter. Fashionable London comes to see who of its acquaintances may be in town; and numberless parties and plans for the future are sketched out on these occasions. As for Mrs. Wriothesley's acquaintance, their name was legion. Ever

soon as he gets within range. I want to speak to him. I

onfess anything. It's delicious to see the utterly unconscious way in which he will upset people's sche

comfort; rather given to playing tricks upon his fellow-creatures; but he is more of a Puck than a Mephistopheles.-Good mor

nt of Lady Mary's guests, and to the furtherance of Lady Mary's plans. I am sure she was much delighted at all the dancing and t

e, you know, at Todborough, that she and

se, as you know," inter

suppose she m

sculine understandings are a great deal too dense to penetrate the subtleties of feminine language. She might mean that she intends your

e in future as possible?" rejoined Mrs. Wriothesley, ta

uld, if it was not so crowded that it is almost impossible to find anybody. But-ah, here comes Lady Mary and la belle Blanche! Shall I stop her, and ask her what she does mean?" And Mr. Cottrell looked so utte

tage of his situation, and, turning from Mrs. Wriothesley and Sylla, placed himself in Lady Mary's way, and stopped her to shake hands. It was only natural that Sylla should jump up to say "How do you do?" to Blanche; and then suddenly occurred to Mrs.

e, which is well worth looking on at; such a pretty game. We can go across and have our af

ra, the Royal Academy, or other of the stereotyped exhibitions. If you can't rave about the 'dexterity of the dear Indians,' you are really not doing your duty to

many people for whom we feel a by no means dormant aversion. It is only the Pansey Cottrells of this world w

to do, &c. But here, somewhat to her mother's astonishment, Blanche interposed, and suggested that their other engagements could be postponed. The young lady was great at lawn tennis, having a natural aptitude for all

u are setting up as an 'eccentric.' By-the-bye, Miss Sylla, of course you will see Beauchamp at Pri

's guidance, was not doing her best to entangle Lionel Beauchamp in her toils, no power could have persuaded Lady Mary. Mrs. Wriothesley was one of the few people who thoroughly understood

so that in spite of her mother's misgivings and Blanche's own nascent jealousy of Sylla, the afternoon glided pleasantly by, until it was time to stroll across to Prince's. They found quite a fashionable mob already there assembled, for, as Mr. Cottrell had told them, to see the Canadians p

r my generosity. I am afraid, strictly speaking, it only amounts to the payment of a d

lanche. "What has Sylla given you? a

kcliffe, you know, as indeed he has been called upon to do before, though not quite in that fashion. He saved my bracelet, you

"I haven't had time; but I wil

cy with Sylla Chipchase was very distasteful to her. What was this present she had made him? and what was this commission she had given him? She did not like to ask further questions just then, but she made up her mind that she would know all abo

looks incomprehensible and never-ending, to start with; but when you have seen a

ained it to me at lunc

at games, and can foll

ge for Mr. Beauchamp, w

ive

intended to be delivered. She had her own opinion as to the motive of that message, but, thus challenged, immediatel

thing can't suit you when you don't want i

med," said Lady Mary. "He certainly sa

dy else," interposed

dle man with a very

a hack, and he h

red to herself on that night at the Grange, when she had first heard of the relationship between Sylla and Mrs. Wriothesley, was already begun. She had a horrible conviction that she was once more destined to undergo the bitterness of offering her congratulations to her successful opponent. What cruel fatality had ordained that whenever she had a daughter to settle, Mrs. Wriothesley should invariably appear upon the scene with a niece? And in the anguish of her spirit she gave way to very harsh thoughts conce

nd Lady Mary, rising, signals h

he found herself outside. "I think her making a present to a young

nche; "she has known him all her life;

ever to have made such

trumpeting i

and I think she was perhaps carried away by the excitement

ook Sylla's part regarding it. She was a proud girl, and it was probable that she shrank from owning even to h