propose. Montfort has been only dead eighteen months—died just before young Carr's marriage. His widow lives, in complete seclusion, at her jointure-house near Twickenham. She has only seen even me once since her loss."
Darrell. "When was that?"
MORLEY. " About six or seven months ago; she asked after you with much interest."
Darrell. "After me!"
Colonel Morley. "To be sure. Don't I remember how constantly she and her mother were at your house? Is it strange that she should ask after you } You ought to know her better—the most affectionate, grateful character."
Darrell. "I dare say. But at the time you refer to I was too occupied to acquire much accurate knowledge of a young lady's character. I should have known her mother's character better, yet I mistook even that."
Colonel Morley. "Mrs. Lyndsay's character you might well mistake—charming but artificial: Lady Montfort is natural. Indeed, if you had not that liberal prejudice against widows, she was the very person I was about to suggest to you."
Darrell. "A fashionable beauty, and young enough to be my daughter! Such is human friendship! So the marquisate is extinct, and Sir James Vipont, whom I remember in the House of Commons—respectable man—great authority on cattle—timid, and always saying: Did yow read the article in today's paper?'—has the estates and the earldom."
Colonel Morley. "Yes. There was some fear of a disputed succession, but Sir James made his claim very clear. Between you and me, the change has been a serious affliction to the Viponts. The late Lord was not wise, but on State occasions he looked his part—tres Grana Seignmr—and Carr managed the family influence with admirable tact. The present Lord has the habits of a yeoman; his wife shares his tastes. He has taken the management not only of the property, but of its influence, out of Carr's hands, and will make a sad mess of it, for he is an impracticable, obsolete politician. He will never keep the family together—impossible—a sad thing. I remember how our last muster, five years ago next Christmas, struck terror into Lord 's Cabinet; the mere report of it in the newspapers set all people talking and thinking. The result was, that, two weeks after, proper overtures were made to Carr—he consented to assist the Ministers—and the Country was saved! Now, thanks to this stupid new Earl, in eighteen months we have lost ground which it took at least a century and a half to
