The Weird of the Wentworths, Vol. 1

d b

o'er fair wome

arts beat hap

with its vol

d love to eyes

as a marriage-bel

snow on the

den was

hite hung gli

tree's branche

nally either he or his brothers would rein up their carriage at Seaview, and take her brother a drive; but still no advance towards friendship was made. S

that between them they would carry the day in favour of the Earl of Dalkeith, and the time was busily spent in canvassing. The better to insure his son's interests, the Duke resolved on giving a grand Election Ball; and it was whispered that many a vote, conscientiously denied, would lay at his feet if an invitation to

ed, and the trees hung with variegated lamps. At the Towers, however, there was no unusual excitement; such things sat lightly on people accustomed to the bril

had been ordered to take a troop of the 7th Hussars from Edinburgh to the Preston Barracks near Brighton, then one of the most fashionable resorts, owing to the Pavilion the Prince Regent had built there. She felt now free as air, and if-if Lord Wentworth did dance with her, how happy she would feel! She could settle to nothing all that day;

e sky; but towards evening it cleared off cold and frosty. Six o'clock, the d

a!" exclaimed the disappointed

it will only annoy Madame, and

her dress, her case was truly piteous. Johnny volunteered to drive to town and bring it back with him, if his sister would get everything else ready; and with a heav

ll-dress, which was very pretty; but it was in vain, Ellen had set her heart on appearing in her own beautiful choice; and, sooner than put on another, she would stay at home! Just then a bell rang. "My dress!" But no,-it was the carriage to take them to Dalkeith, and she not ready! Surely the stars fought against her. However, all grief must have its end, and at last Ellen's had too. A little a

Before they had proceeded a mile on their ro

ensworth, in his turn beginning t

n. I will ride one of the horses to the vi

re exposed to the taunts of every coachman and flunky who passed in their gay turn-outs to the ball, and called out, "Shall we tell the Duke you are co

ed to have friends but them; they knew nobody,-nobody seemed to know, or care about them. Had it not been for Ellen's great beauty, which attracted the attention and admiration of all the officers present, they would have been unnoticed too. Ellen cared only for one face, and whilst she saw it not she was miserable. It was not till she and her father had thrice made the round of the suite that Ellen began to feel persuaded he was not there. She refused every offer to dance, and they were by no means few, with a cold smile; and

. Lord Arranmore and the Captain had dined at Piershill, where several troops of the 7th were quartered, and

ose; remember Ellen Ravensworth is to b

oms. It was eleven ere they again appeared, Frank in full uniform, and the Earl s

et?" said Frank; "one would have t

ing negligé; excepting her earrings and bracelets, which were of rubies, she wore no ornament, but a diamond star of five points on her brow. Florence was arrayed in Brussels lace

said Lord Wentworth. It was the announcement of "The Ladies Edith and Fl

ng," thought she, "a

ovely creatures?

llen, as the Earl, who had stayed a minute behind t

Lady Florence to Edith; "how flushed s

his arm, passed down the rooms, smiling, or bowing, or speaking to every one. Frank was soon relieved of Florence's company, who was whirled off in the new dance, the then novel waltz, by Sir Richard Musgrave, a lieutenant in the Captain's troop. Lord We

racing to, Mr

y Lord, but I am just now in pursuit of my d

this way,-gently! Ah! there she is like a blooming Eastern bride! And now, Mr. Ravensworth,

honour her too much,-'The Earl of Wen

ally stood the Earl before her! he had pushed a

her Johnny is such a favourite with us all, and he has spoken so

d," was all that Ellen could answer, he

terwards he led her forth as his partner in the next waltz. Those few minutes, with her idol's arm round her waist, and his he

heerily, cheerily, m

than they were whitened. Such was the scene as Lord Wentworth handed Ellen to her carriage, and this made a capital excuse for his offering his magnificent sable cloak, fastened with glittering diamonds, to protect the fair child of beauty's neck and shoulders from the wind and snow; and for insisting on her accepting it as a defence from the cold on her way home. He would take no refusal; so, after seeing her safely ensconced in her carriage, with his mantle wrapped round her, he more than pressed her hand, shook hands warmly with her father, and left her in an ecstacy o

d Lady Florence, entering the breakfas

barracks ten times better-you didn't hear me come home this m

u must be t

ough: I promised to show him Wentworth's Russian sledge some day. Ha! ha! old fellow,"

what do y

, you have turned that poor girl's head, I'll s

d with a pretty girl-flirted

r spread your cloak over her fair shou

es a countess," said Frank,

what stuff

ohn, "how many fellow

on't know-how

ve you danced with every

dges," said the Earl, glad

re you coming

n! we have more res

aster of the horse,) "to put in the two unbr

, don't go,

Edith. I shall think you are

t, I'll go," ans

come with

ot afraid of y

ontrol. At last he was off at a dashing rate, and had apparently lost all control of his horses long before he was out of sight. In a more dignified manner the Earl and Frank drove off with Lady Edith and Florence inside, wrapped in the costliest furs. Following the traces

as he neared Ellen's house; "but," continued he, pointin

ove has lynx eyes," replied Frank. In

ne way of treating your friends, Miss Ravenswort

omfort to me last night," she replied, as she shook hands with

s Ravensworth coming for a drive with us-Frank, you may drive now-Jo

d Florence as Ellen and the Earl en

you to say so

he ball?" said the Earl,

felt a little du

what had I t

blushed crimson as she perc

table?" said Lady Edith, perceiving her em

know what I should h

value for it, Miss Ravenswo

ay so," excl

ng you at the Towers some day. Do you know, Mi

do talk, Wentworth,

ense; it

worth?" said Ellen, regaining

would be

uldn't, d

d. I dreamed then-but mercy

road surrounding Arthur's Seat. Just as the sleigh was gliding along above the Loch of Duddingston, feeling cold, he had given the reins to Johnny for a moment, while he lighted a cigar and took a pul

t danger was over, burst into a fit of laughter as his brother put out his head from the inside, and sternly demanded from Frank the meaning of such an ill-timed practical joke. As soon as Frank could speak, he told the whole occurrence, which in its turn made the occupants of the inside laugh too, though the ladies but a few minutes before were screaming in terror; at least two of them, for Lady Edith was

nce he and his sisters called for Ellen and Johnny, and on that occasion Ellen had been chaperoned by her admirer over the Loch. On her return home she found an invitation, including all of them, even to Maude, asking the pleasure of their company at dinner on Christmas day, and concluding by saying that a sleigh would be sent

fashion he handed the fair lady out of the sleigh. "How are you, Ravensworth? how are you,

real Christmas dinner, and never did a happier or merrier party meet together. Mr. Lennox was in high feather at his good fortune, and most assiduous in his attention to the Ladies de Vere, perhaps as much as the Earl was to Ellen, whom he had taken down to dinner. After the ladies and

ver is pleasing to you and the Vestry is th

give it to Power,

?" said Mr. Lennox, much

se he is such a

er hear him prea

you troubled

one of his d-d sermons on me, whether a fellow

but, asking your pardon, I should say Mr.

sincere; I thank God, whateve

God for anything," re

dn't have then," retorte

d the Earl; "let Power have the

hot at the head of the clergyman, to whom, in common with his ki

do you like the idea of our regiment

ave a rare lark with the Regent. Do you remem

d just: what a spree

k; "out with it, John-no

led with dreadful oaths, and during the recital he and Musgrave, as well as Arranmore, who was also a hard drinker, had plied themselves with a heavy quantity of liquor in Lennox's opinion, but a quantity that the Captain only regarded as a milksop's allowance. By-and-by, as they imbibed more wine, the mirth grew faster

amily were canvassed pretty freely by Mr. Lennox and her father, who were both grieved at the irreligious tone of the house, and both gave as their opinion that Captain de Vere was the most godless young man they had ever met with. Little better could be said of Lord Arranmore and Sir R. Musgrave; the Earl and Frank seemed the best, and the latter was certainly suffering from the evil example before him. Nothing could be said against the ladies. However, with all their faults, neither of the gentle

girl; and that night she dreamed s