Page:Lady Anne Granard 1.pdf/250

Rh Pride would mingle with his pleasure, the world would run away with him for a short time, for, on every side, he heard congratulations on his marriage, or the advantages of his situation, as contrasted with his former one. There might be some shrugs and some sneers amongst the party on the "all for love" young couple, or the young man who had banished himself to that horrible Siberia, "the city;" but these were not heard by him, nor were they uttered by any of the aristocratic part of the community. Much as it is the fashion to deride the nobility, by decrying their morality and denying their ability, even by those who have the entrée, and therefore may be supposed to know them the best, in point of fact, at the present day, there are amongst them an immense proportion of good and sensible people. If the whole were as much distinguished by nature as by rank, it would be much more extraordinary than that "a few young men were wild and foolish, a few old ones prejudiced and conceited—that amongst a race of women, distinguished as much by their personal charms as their titles, some should be weak and vain, others prejudiced and presuming. In what town or village, amongst what class of female life, shall we find an exemption from these faults? The possession of beauty leads to an overweening admiration of it, and wealth gives a power of preserving this boon of nature in a manner forbidden to the poor, which will account fully for the extreme and perhaps blameable solicitude a few continue to feel on the