The servant now entered with a message from Lady Gerard, who would not alight, begging that Lady Juliana would make haste down to her, as they had not a moment to lose.  She was flying away, without further ceremony than a “Pray, excuse me,” to the General, when her husband called after her to know whether the child was gone out, as he wished to show her to the General.

“I don’t know, indeed,” replied the fashionable mother; “I haven’t had time to see her to-day;” and, before Douglas could reply she was downstairs.

A pause ensued—­the General whistled a quickstep, and Douglas walked up and down the .room in a pitiable state of mind, guessing pretty much what was passing in the mind of his friend, and fully sensible that it must be of a severer nature than anything he could yet allow himself to think of his Juliana.

“Douglas,” said the General, “have you made any step towards a reconciliation with your father-in-law?  I believe it will become shortly necessary for your support.”

“Juliana wrote twice after her marriage,” replied he; “but the reception which her letters met with was not such as to encourage perseverance on our part.  With regard to myself, it is not an affair in which delicacy will permit me to be very active, as I might be accused of mercenary motives, which I am far from having.”

“Oh, of that I acquit you; but surely it ought to be a matter of moment, even to a—–­Lady Juliana.  The case is now altered.  Time must have accustomed him to the idea of this imaginary affront; and, on my honour, if he thought like a gentleman and a man of sense, I know where he would think the misfortune lay.  Nay, don’t interrupt me.  The old Earl must now, I say, have cooled in his resentment; perhaps, too, his grandchildren may soften his heart; this must have occurred to you.  Has her Ladyship taken any further steps since her arrival in town?”

“I—­I believe she has not; but I will put her in mind.”

“A daughter who requires to have her memory refreshed on such a subject is likely to make a valuable wife!” said the General drily.

Douglas felt as if it was incumbent on him to be angry, but remained silent.

“Hark ye, Douglas,” continued the General, “I speak this for your interest.  You cannot go on without the Earl’s help.  You know I am not on ceremony with you; and if I refrain from saying what you see I think about your present ruinous mode of life, it is not to spare your feelings, but from a sense of the uselessness of any such remonstrance.  What I do give you is with goodwill; but all my fortune would not suffice to furnish pug-dogs and deformed teapots for such a vitiated taste; and if it would, hang me if it should!  But enough on this head.  The Earl has been in bad health, and is lately come to town.  His son, too, and his lady are to come about the same time, and are to reside with him during the season.  I have heard Lord Lindore spoken of