for himself and daughter, which were, though at some distance from the Earl, under the providence of his vigilant survey.
While Mauleverer was deifying the Dowager Duchess, and refreshing his spirits with a chicken, and a medicinal glass of Madeira, the conversation near Lucy turned, to her infinite dismay, upon Clifford. Some one had seen him in the grounds, booted, and in a riding undress,—(in that day people seldom rode and danced in the same conformation of coat,)—and as Mauleverer was a precise person about those little matters of etiquette, this negligence of Clifford's made quite a subject of discussion. By degrees the conversation changed into the old inquiry as to who this Captain Clifford was; and just as it had reached that point, it reached also the gently deafened ears of Lord Mauleverer.
"Pray, my Lord," said the old Duchess, "since he is one of your guests, you, who know who, and what every one is, can possibly inform us of the real family of this beautiful Mr. Clifford?"
