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168 by his pretty wife with a face of charmed attention.

Well, nature makes some wise provisions, it must be confessed. We should be envious of others' happiness if, in nine cases out of ten, we did not despise it. Francesca felt Lucy's pleasant lot; but felt, also, that such would not have suited herself.

In the meantime, Lord Avonleigh found a wonderful resource in being loyal; he attended county meetings, denounced the Puritans, discouraged conventicles, discountenanced long graces or long sermons, and was seized with a sudden veneration for the church as established by law, which led to fines and imprisonment on all absentees from worship as ordained by law. Hitherto the commanding influence of Sir Robert Evelyn's character had sunk his own into insignificance—now he had no "rival near the throne," alias the bench of county magistrates. It was amazing how much more discontent, however, accrued under the management of the good-natured Lord Avonleigh, than under the resolved, nay, somewhat stern Sir Robert Evelyn. The truth is, the one never swerved one inch from what he held to be the right; while the other had a thousand whims, favourites, prejudices, and interests, all to be