Page:Romance & Reality 2.pdf/103

Rh every female takes as a compliment to herself; and a spirit of romantic enterprise, enough to turn your heads and hearts, like the love-charms of the Irish story-tellers." "Why!" exclaimed Lord Mandeville, "you must have seen a great deal of him. How, Miss Arundel, did you ever withstand his fascinations?" Most probably Emily did not hear this question; for she was in the act of opening the window, to walk on the terrace. Lady Mandeville alone caught sight of her face, coloured with the brightest carnation. What betraying things blushes are! Like sealing-wax in the juvenile riddle, a blush "burns to keep a secret." She turned into the most shadowy walk—one whose thick laurels shut out all but the green winding path below. She wished for no companion to break in upon her thoughts. We use the phrase, "too confused for happiness; " but I doubt whether that confusion be not our nearest approach to it in this life. Involuntarily her light step quickened; and the buoyant pace with which she reached the end of the walk was in unison with the rapid