Page:Romance & Reality 1.pdf/299

Rh for Mr. Delawarr, they could not do less than admire each other. People are often very generous in giving what is of no value: is it on this principle that one lady is usually so profuse in her admiration of the dress of another? Truly, that afternoon they ought to have enjoyed themselves: it was a bright, becoming day,—one of those fairy gifts with which summer now and then surprises us. Their progress had all the exhilaration of rapidity: four horses with

and a carriage, light as if meant more for air than earth, combine the opposite pleasures of indolence and motion. Nothing could be gayer than the scene through which they passed: it had only one fault—they were used to it. Soon the sound of music, and an atmosphere heavy with the odour of the most aromatic plants, announced their arrival at Lady Walsingham's villa, where Ambition was giving a fête to Pleasure, as Fashion's prime minister. Lady Walsingham was rich—even in London; she had rank, but she had not always had it. Her first husband was a horror, but he had money; her second was a fool, but he had a title;—and thus possessed of riches and rank,