Page:Romance & Reality 2.pdf/290

288 "Ah, Adelaide, what talents you have!" Our principal actions are the result of our smallest motives. Now Lady Etheringhame had divers minute influences of dislike towards Lorraine. First, he had not been sufficiently miserable at her marriage with another; secondly, he had not courted her since; and third, last, and worst, she saw that Edward thoroughly appreciated the motives and manoeuvres of her marriage; in short, no food could possibly be extracted from him for her insatiable vanity. The death of Mr. Eskville had left the seat of the borough of A. at Lord Etheringhame's disposal; and it had been long understood that the said seat was, immediately on its becoming vacant, to be filled by Lorraine; but Lady Lauriston thought it a pity her son should miss such an opportunity of getting into Parliament. The plan was suggested to Adelaide, and, as we have seen, met with her ready concurrence; with her first cup of coffee, therefore, she commenced operations. "I must shew you, Algernon, a new purchase of mine"- -so saying she drew towards them a small table, in the middle of which was set a china plate, or rather picture—"I bought it