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of looking upon her rather in the light of an humble companion to Mrs. Ruthven, having provoked her malice against him, the truths he tells her are not quite so disagreeable as those he tells you.'

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CHAP. VII.

< Under how hard a fate are women born!
Priz'd to their ruin, or expos'd to scorn,
If we want beauty, we of love despair,

And are besieg'd, like frontier towns, if fair.'

WALL.

ELIZABETH could not conceive what could be the cause of the malignant and disdainful glances she received from Mrs. Ruthven and Miss Rae. She had been introduced to them in a way to entitle her to their respect, and fully sensible there was nothing in her own manner calculated to offend. If the rest of Mrs. Dunbar's visitors deported themselves in a similar manner, she felt she should not be very desirous of prolonging her stay under her roof.

But of total neglect she had not long reason to complain. Mr. Ruthven was charmed with her appearance, and lavish in his eulogiums; nor rested until he had introduced himself to her particular notice.

This gentleman, beneath the semblance of the most thoughtless good humour, concealed a disposition not inferior in point of art to Lord O'Sinister's, and was, if possible, a still more dangerous character than his Lordship, as, unlike him, he was possessed of all the advantages of youth. In his admiration of beauty, he was enthusiastic, nor ever permitted any consideration whatever to prevent his pursuing the object he admired. He knew this was Elizabeth's first visit to this part of the Highlands, and led to a conversation, by asking her opinion of the scenery. His manners were agreeable, and Elizabeth, besides, was too well pleased to be relieved from the

aukward situation which being unnoticed by all made her feel herself in, to discourage the inclination he manifested to pay her attention.

The rage and jealousy of Miss Rae exceeded description; she trembled at the idea of her hopes respecting him being disappointed through her means, and, in the bitterness of her heart at their apprehended annihilation, curst, as fervently as he blessed, the chance which had thrown her in the way of Mrs. Dunbar. She left no art unessayed, to try to detach him from Miss Munro, but in vain. He heard not her sighs....he saw not her frowns or smiles....he had, in short, no ears, no eyes, but for the lovely creature with whom he was then conversing, and whose equal in beauty he thought he had never

seen.

Mrs. Ruthven wished to see him engaged in some affair that might justify, or, in some degree at least, excuse the step she herself meditated taking; for through the artful instignations of her unprincipled confidant, she had come to the resolution of no longer resisting the dictates of inclination: still, however, notwithstanding this resolution, and the above wish, she could not help being mortified at his conduct to Elizabeth, so malignant were the feelings with which her charms had inspired her.

Elizabeth, prevented by the conversation into which she had entered with Ruthven from further noticing the scowling glances of his lady and her friend, and alike unconscious of the envy and admiration she had excited, soon regained her wonted ease and animation.

On the announcement of dinner, Ruthven took her hand to lead her to the dining parlour. In their way thither, her attention was suddenly diverted from what he was saying to her, by hearing Lady Lochness enquiring of Mrs. Dunbar, whether she did not expect Cap

tain Delacour to dinner?

'Captain Delacour!' (it may be recollected he had not mentioned to her the name of his relation,) repeated Elizabeth involuntarily, and with a glowing cheek, turning her eyes full Ruthven.... Does he visit here? upon Why, do you know him?'

'Perhaps not the Captain Delacour that visits here," returned Elizabeth, hesitating a little, and blushing still more deeply at the look with which this enquiry was accompanied.

'What kind of person is the one you know?'

"Oh, a very handsome man,' said Elizabeth, again speaking in the fulness of her heart.

·

A very handsome man!" echoed Ruthven, in an arch accent, and with a corresponding look. Upon my word, this will be flattering information for Delacour. I see, when ladies are taken by surprise, they will sometimes speak their real sentiments.'

Nay,' cried Elizabeth, greatly confused, 'I only meant to say, that....'

'He was reckoned handsome by every one you knew, and that you subscribed to the general opinion: but to reply to your question. From what you have said of the Captain Delacour you know, he is the same, I fancy, who is now on a visit here, the nephew of Mrs. Dunbar's late husband.'

The pleasure which this intelligence afforded Elizabeth she endeavoured to conceal under an air of indifference, in order to avoid giving Mr. Ruthven fresh cause for raillery; but in vain she strove to divert his conversation from what she had just said. He continued to revert to it, till at length the pain he caused her became too obvious to permit of his continuing it.

During the whole of dinner, to the unutterable mortification of Miss Rae, his attention was almost entirely engrossed by her.

A short time after they were seated at table, Elizabeth was again attracted from him, by hearing Lady Lochness asking Mrs. Dunbar, whether she knew the reason of Captain Delacour not dining at home?

'No, indeed,' replied Mrs. Dunbar : I only know that he came into my dressing-room about an hour ago, to request I might not wait dinner for him, as he was going out immediately, and it was very uncertain when he should return.'

'An hour ago,' Elizabeth repeated to herself; then, in all probability, he already knew of her being an in

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mate under the roof of his aunt. Oh! if he did, and his feelings at this juncture at all correspond with her's.... she could not help flattering herself they might.

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What curiosity!' cried Grant, alluding to Lady Lochness's enquiries concerning Delacour; but I never knew a woman, at least a woman, of fashion, who did not like to pry into the affairs of other people. Hence, to their inordinate curiosity about these, the little attention they bestow on their own.'

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Why you good-for-nothing creature,' returned Lady Lochness, if we had not curiosity, where would be our knowledge?"

Better be without knowledge, than such as your curiosity leads you to acquire, the knowledge of your. neighbour's faults, for the sake of publishing them."

You are a downright slanderer, and as such I believe I shall be tempted to erase you from the list of my favourites.'

'The list will be but a small one I am afraid, if there are none upon it but such as merit not the appellation you have bestowed upon me."

'Tis too bad, indeed,' said Hume, in an affected tone, to rail at the loveliest part of creation, without whom, as the poet elegantly says....' We had been brutes."

Yes, and whom you admire so much,' rejoined Grant, 'that you endeavour to imitate them as much as possible. But, in reply to your observation, I always rail against those who are most deserving of censure. There was a time, indeed, when the wonen of this country were better than they are at present, but now they are quite as bad as any of their neighbours on the Continent....as well skilled in making for themselves other faces than those which Nature has made for them, in jigging, ambling, lisping, and nicknaming heaven's creatures.'

'Tis a sure sign the days of chivalry are past, else you would not,' said Lady Lochness," be allowed to vent you spleen against us with impunity,'

The ladies need no champions now,' remarked a gentleman; they only required them in those dark and barbarous ages, when they were too much confined to allow of their merits being fully known.'

Your railing against the sex, let me tell you, Grant,' said Ruthven, is a sure sign of your having met with a grievous disappointment from some fair lady.'

A most indubitable one, indeed,' uttered Hume. 'Yes, 'tis clearly evident, Grant, from your invectives against' 'Heaven's last, best work,' that you have worn the willow in your day; but I suppose you were not aware of the construction your sarcasms were liable to, or you would not have uttered them. You see what it is not to have reflection.'

'Yes, and hear what it is whilst I listen to you.'

The entrance of Captain Delacour with a hurried step interrupted this conversation; and, as soon as he had paid his compliments in a general way to the company, with all of whom he seemed perfectly well acquainted, he approached a chair, which had been kept vacant for him, between Mrs. Ruthven and Miss Rae.

'You told me, my dear George,' said Mrs. Dunbar, and, by a glance of her expressive eyes, directing his to Elizabeth, whom he appeared before not to have seen, 'that you had the honour of being acquainted with Miss Munro.'

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'I did, Madam,' replied he, smiling and bowing to Elizabeth, and trust have the happiness of now seeing Miss Munro well.'

Elizabeth replied by a bow, too much confused, and perhaps agitated at the moment, to speak, owing to the scrutinizing earnestness with which she saw herself regarded by Ruthven, from the moment Delacour entered the room.

The conversation now became more general. Delacour supported his part in it with the utmost animation, but did not again particularly address himself to Elizabeth, a circumstance she did not, in consequence of the manner in which she was then situated, regret, especially as from the glances she from time to time caught from him, she had reason to believe it was not for want of inclination.

The looks of Ruthven were not more closely watched on this occasion by Miss Rae, than were those of Delacour by Mrs. Ruthven, he being the object of her heart's

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