It would not be very interesting, even if we had times to detail all that took place upon that occasion; but it must be confessed that, though once or twice Lord Sherbrooke felt inclined to put forth all his powers of pleasing, out of pique at the marked preference which Lady Laura showed for Wilton, he in no degree concealed the worst points of his character.  He said nothing, indeed, which could offend in mere expression:  but every now and then he suffered some few words to escape him, which clearly announced that the ties of morality and religion were in no degree recognised by him amongst the principles by which he intended to guide his actions.  He even forced the conversation into channels which afforded an opportunity of expressing opinions of worse than a dangerous character.  Constancy, he said, was all very well for a turtledove, or an old man of seventy with a young wife; and as for religion, there were certain people paid for having it, and he should not trouble himself to have any unless he were paid likewise.  This was not, indeed, all said at once, nor in such distinct terms as we have here used, but still the meaning was the same; and whether expressed in a jesting or more serious manner, that meaning could not be misunderstood.

Wilton looked grave and sad when he heard such things said to a pure and high-minded girl; and Lady Laura herself turned a little pale, and cast her eyes down upon the ground without reply.

At length, after this had gone on for some time, Lord Sherbrooke inquired for Lady Mary Fenwick, saying that he had hoped to see her there, and to inquire after her health.

“Oh, she is here still,” replied Lady Laura; “but she complained of headache this morning, and is sitting in the little library.  I do not know whether she would be inclined to see any one or not.”

“Oh, she will see me, beyond all doubt,” exclaimed Lord Sherbrooke—­“no lady ever refuses to see me.  Besides, her great-grandmother, on old Lady Carlisle’s side, was my great-grandfather’s forty-fifth cousin; so that we are relations.  I will go and find her out.  Stay you, Wilton, and console Lady Laura, till I come back again.  I shall not be five minutes.”

Thus saying, away he darted, leaving Lady Laura and Wilton alone in the middle of the walk.  The lady seemed to hesitate for a moment what she should do, whether she should follow to the house or not, and she paused for an instant in the walk; but inclination, if the truth must be said, got the better of what she might consider strictly decorous, and after that momentary pause, she walked on with Wilton by her side.  In saying that it was inclination determined her conduct, I did not mean to say that it was solely the inclination to walk and converse with Wilton Brown, though that had some share in the business, but there was besides, an inclination to be freed from the presence of Lord Sherbrooke, who had succeeded to a miracle in making her thoroughly disgusted with him.