te of Miss ses which oslate into the utmost , thinking be subject. yle of the to enclos Ts are per adrawia "I shall never forget it!" exclaimed her ladyship, dy arrived her clenched band; "I never look on the Face of Constan ht it unn shaking her bead mournfully, and strig tine, that I do not execrate from my heart the I have avern to him; but I have bound Lad “To him who will apply them." On persuing farther, he found them to be Mr. Addison's beautiful translation of that ode of Sappho which runs : "Blest as the immortal Gods is he "'Twas this deprived my soul of rest, My breath was gone, my voice was lost "My bosom glow'd; the subtle flame "In dewy damps my limbs were chill'd; 66 I fainted, sunk, and di'd away!" Thaddeus threw both them and the medallion together on the table, and sat for a few minutes, considering how he should extricate himself from an affair so truly farcial. He was thinking of at once giving up the task of attending either of the sisters, when his eyes falling on the uncomplaining but melancholy features of his poor friend, he exclaimed, "no for thy sake, gallant Butzou, I will brave every scene however repugnant to my feelings!" Well aware from observations on Miss Euphemia, that the seeming tenderness, which had prompted an act so wild and unbecoming, originated in mere caprice, he felt no hesitation in determining to return the things in as handsome a manner as possible, and by so doing at once crush the whole affair. He experienced no pain when forming these resolves; because he saw that not one impulse of her conduct had any thing to do with her heart. It was a whim lit up by him to day, which might be extinguished by another to morrow. But how different was the case with regard to Lady Sara! her uncontrolled nature could not long brook the restraints of friendship. Every attention that he gave to Lady Tinemouth, every civility that he paid to Miss Egerton, or to any other lady whom he met at the Coun tess's went like a dagger to her soul; and whenever she could gain his ear in private, she generally made him sensible of her misery, and his own unhappiness in being its cause, by reproaches which too unequivocally proclaimed their source. He now saw that her ladyship had given way to a dangerous and headstrong passion: and, allowing for the politeness which is due from his sex, he tried by an appearance of the most stubborn coldness, and obstinate perversity, in shutting his apprehension against all her speeches and actions, to stem a tide that threatened her with the loss of peace. Lady Tinemouth at last began to open her eyes to the perilous situation of both her friends. Highly as she esteemed Thaddeus she knew not the extent of his integrity. She had lived too long about the court of Britain, and seen too many from the courts of the continent, to place much reliance on the honor of a single and unattached young man, when assailed by rank, beauty and love. Alarmed at what might be the result of her observations, and fearing to lose any time, she had that very evening, in which she expected the count to supper, drawn out of Lady Sara, the unhappy state of her heart. The dreadful confession was made by her ladyship with repeated showers of tears, and in paroxysms of agony, which pierced the countess to the soul. "My dear Lady Sara," cried she, "for heaven's sake remember your duty to Captain Roos!" "I shall never forget it!" exclaimed her ladyship, shaking her head mournfully, and striking her breast with her clenched hand; "I never look on the face of Constan tine, that I do not execrate from my heart, the vows which I have sworn to him; but I have bound myself his prop erty; and though I hate him, whatever it may cost me, I will never forget that my faith and honor are my husband's." Lady Tinemouth, with a countenance bathed in tears, put her arms around the waist of Lady Sara, who now sat motionless, with her eyes fixed on the fire. "Dear Lady Sara! that was spoken like yourself. Do more abstain from seeing Mr. Constantine." "Don't ask me that !" cried her ladyship, "I could easier rid myself of existence. He is the very essence of my happiness. It is only in his company, that I forget I am a wretch." "This is obstinacy, my dear Lady Sara! This is court ing danger." Lady Tinemouth, urge me no more on the subject. Is it not enough," continued she, sullenly," that I am miserable? Would you drive me to desperation? If there be danger you brought me into it." "I !" "Yes, you, Lady Tinemouth; you introduced him to me. "But you are married. Handsome, and amiable as he is, could I suppose-" "Nonsense!" cried her ladyship, interrupting her, you know that I am married to a mere focl! But it is not because Constantine is handsome that I like him. No, though no human form can come nearer perfection, yet it was not that; it was you. You, and Maria Eger ton were always telling me of his bravery, what wealth and honors he had sacrificed in the service of his country; how nobly he succoured the distresses of others; how heedless he was of his own. "This fired my imagination, and won my heart. No, it was not his beauty; I am not so despicable !" "Dear Lady Sara, be calm!" entreated her ladyship, completely at a loss how to manage a spirit, whose violence exceeded her conception; "Think, my dear friend, what horrors you would experience if Mr. Constantine were to discover this predilection of yours, and presume upon it; You know where even the best of men are vul. nerable. The eyes of Lady Sara sparkled with pleasure at this surmise of the countess's. "Why, surely, Lady Sara!" exclaimed Lady Tinemouth doubtingly. "Don't fear me lady Tinemouth; I know my own dignity too well to do any thing disgraceful; yet I would ac quire the knowledge that he loves me, at almost any price. But he is cold," added she, sinking again into despondence," he is a piece of obstinate petrifaction which heaven itself could not melt!" Lady Tinemouth was glad to hear this account of Thaddeus. She began to take a little confidence from his side, just as the drawing-room door opened and Miss Euphemia Dundas was announced. Lady Sara gave the little beauty such a withering look, when she expressed her amazement at not seeing Mr. Constantine, who was to have apprised the countess of her intended visit, that, had her ladyship's eyes been Medusean for that moment, poor Euphemia would ever after have represented a stone statute of disappointment. Meanwhile, the Count having seen Dr. Cavendish, and received a favorable opinion of his friend, wrote the following note to Miss Euphemia and then arranged his dress, before he proceeded to Grosvenor Place. "To MISS EUPHEMIA DUNDAS. "Mr. Constantine very much admires the taste of Miss Euphemia Dundas, in the choice of those verses which she did him the honor of requesting he would translate into the most appropriate language; and he has to the utmost of his abilities, obeyed her commands in Italian, thinking it the best adapted, both for versification and the subject. "Mr. Constantine equally admires the style of the medallion which Miss E. Dundas condescended to enclose for his inspection, and assures her that the letters are perfectly correct.' When the Count entered Lady Tinemouth's drawing room he saw that his young enamorata had already arrived, and was in close conversation with the Countess. Lady Sara, now that the discovery was made, thought it unne VOL. I. |