CHAPTER VII. "Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? And do you tell me of a woman's tongue, "BY-THE-BYE, Nina," said the Earl, "when the servants had withdrawn, and the conversation become more familiar, "you have never told me, dearest, how you and my aunt Grantham have been going on during my absence." "Oh, my dear lord!" she answered, laughing, and looking rather confused, “pray change the subject. How true it is that perfect happi VOL. I. F 1 ness cannot be the lot of mortal man or woman; for the first time since your return, I begin to feel that I am one of Eve's unfortunate posterity. -Oh! the sound of that name !" she exclaimed, putting her fingers to her ears; "do let us talk of something else." "My dear love," the Earl replied, with much earnestness, "you really are very absurd upon that subject—it is your only weak point. When you are a little older, Nina-a little wiser," and here he smiled, "you will be able to appreciate her intentions better. Depend upon it, my aunt means everything for the best; and from her knowledge of the world, her opinions ought to be respected." The Countess did not appear the least convinced by this argument. Compressing her lips into the same expression of disgust, that had so electrified Reginald a few hours before, and shrugging her pretty shoulders rather impatiently, she said, "How disagreeable well-intentioned people often take the liberty of making themselves!" and at the same time she brought her chair nearer to the Earl; and nestling herself close to him, and looking up into his face, with a coaxing, but at the same time most confident manner, she continued: "I have a long story to tell you, which I dare say will make you inclined to give me a good lecture. Do you know I believe I am at this moment in Lady Grantham's very worst books? and, moreover, were it not that it seems to discompose you, I should not be in the least sorry if it prevented her in future ever taking the liberty of lecturing me again ;" and here the little lady drew herself up, and looked extremely dignified. The Earl appeared really alarmed. "My dear Nina, what do you mean? I trust you have not been committing any folly or rude ness towards my aunt; you know I have the greatest regard and affection for the old lady." "Well," she replied, "you shall hear the whole history, and judge for yourself. Yesternay morning, after papa and my sisters had left me, I really was in very low spirits; indeed I shed so many tears at parting with them, that I had a very bad head-ache." Even Reginald could not help smiling to himself, at the tact which the Countess displayed by thus inlisting the Earl at once in her cause; for she commenced her narration in a most pathetic tone of voice, and already her lord seemed to sympathise in her sufferings, as he tenderly encircled her waist with his arm, and pressed her more closely towards him. "Well," she continued, in a moment regaining her wonted cheerfulness, "I was lying on the sofa, trying by a little quiet, to get rid of my dismality, when, to my surprise and dismay— for it was much earlier than her usual hour for inflicting upon me her presence-Lady Grant ham was announced. I must say that I was not at all pleased; but I was rising to receive her with all due deference, when she stopped me short, by saying, with that sharp wiry voice, that is always to me like a gimlet going through the drum of my ear,— 666 'Pray do not move, Lady Elmsdale; be still, I beseech you. I would far rather see you in that position of repose; it is, I can assure you, much more lady-like, and also better for you, than the fidgetty, inconsequent, manner in which you are always running about the house, and rooms; and which, I shall just seize this opportunity of hinting to you, is improper in every way. Such constant movement destroys the dignity of your address-deranges your attireyour hair, which I regret to say I seldom ever see in proper curl. Allow me to add, that it is childish, and not at all suited to the character of the wife of the Earl of Elmsdale.' Here the Earl could not repress a smile, |