daughter to wealth, if not to birth; so that when the gout drove Lord Darlington to Brighton, and he found himself placed in the next house to Mr. Anthony Derrick the cotton lord, he determined to cultivate the acquaintance, very much to the satisfaction of Lady Darlington and to the delight of the whole family of Derricks.
Lady Eveline was just sixteen when she met with John Derrick, and though she was in a very different style from Miss Hope, there was no doubt she was a very pretty and elegant girl. The Countess was very courteous to him; the Earl, though of a hasty, irritable temper, was always glad to see him, and the young man was flattered by this introduction into aristocratic society. His father and mother were full of the praises of the Lady Eveline, and his sisters struck up a violent friendship for her. Charlotte and Anne Derrick used to accompany Lady Eveline, with their brother's escort, for walks and rides on the beach, and John was delighted to show his acquaintance that he had a lady of title under his care. He brought forward his stock of small talk, which had been so irresistible to Miss Hope, and Lady Eveline did not seem to dislike it. She had never been in society, or been much with people of her own age. She had missed Herbert Darlington's frequent visits, for they
