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small but sufficient competence. She is | to such devotion than allowing the heart now an orphan, and residing with a com- to be blown hither and thither at every panion, a Signora Venosta, who was once breeze of mere fancy, and dreaming oura singer of some repute at the Neapolitan selves into love with some fair creature Theatre, in the orchestra of which her whom we never could marry consistently husband was principal performer; but with the career we have set before our she relinquished the stage several years ambition. I could not marry an actress ago on becoming a widow, and gave les-neither, I presume, could the Marquis sons as a teacher. She has the character de Rochebriant; and the thought of a of being a scientific musician and of un- courtship, which excluded the idea of blemished private respectability. Subse- marriage, to a young orphan of name unquently she was induced to give up gen- unblemished-of virtue unsuspected eral teaching, and undertake the musical would certainly not be compatible with education and the social charge of the 'devotion to noble objects.' young lady with her. This girl is said to have early given promise of extraordinary excellence as a singer, and excited great interest among a coterie of literary critics and musical cognoscenti. She was to have come out at the Theatre of Milan a year or two ago, but her career has been suspended in consequence of ill-health, for which she is now at Paris under the care of an English physician, who has made remarkable cures in all complaints of the respiratory organs. M- the great composer, who knows her, says that in expression and feeling she has no living superior, perhaps no equal since Malibran." "You seem, dear Monsieur, to have taken much pains to acquire this information."

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No great pains were necessary; but had they been I might have taken them, for, as I have owned to you, Mademoiselle Cicogna, while she was yet a mystery to me, strangely interested my thoughts or my fancies. That interest has now ceased. The world of actresses and singers lies apart from mine."

"Yet," said Alain, in a tone of voice that implied doubt, "if I understand Lemercier aright, you were going with him to the Bois on the chance of seeing again the lady in whom your interest has ceased."

Alain involuntarily bowed his head in assent to the proposition, and, it may be, in submission to an implied rebuke. The two men walked in silence for some minutes, and Graham first spoke, changing altogether the subject of conversation.

"Lemercier tells me you decline going much into this world of Paris - the capital of capitals-which appears so irresistibly attractive to us foreigners."

"Possibly; but, to borrow your words, I have the business of life before me."

"Business is a good safeguard against the temptations to excess in pleasure, in which Paris abounds. But there is no business which does not admit of some holiday, and all business necessitates commerce with mankind. A propos, I was the other evening at the Duchesse de Tarascon's- -a brilliant assembly, filled with ministers, senators, and courtiers. I heard your name mentioned." "Mine?"

"Yes; Duplessis, the rising financier who, rather to my surprise, was not only present among these official and decorated celebrities, but apparently quite at home among them-asked the Duchess if she had not seen you since your arrival at Paris. She replied, 'No; that though you were among her nearest connections, you had not called on her;' and bade Duplessis tell you that you were a monstre for not doing so. Whether or not Duplessis will take that liberty, I know not; but you must pardon me if I do. She is a very charming woman, full of talent; and that stream of the world which reflects the stars with all their mythical influences on fortune, flows through her salons."

"Lemercier's account was not strictly accurate. He stopped his carriage to speak to me on quite another subject, on which I have consulted him, and then proposed to take me on to the Bois. I assented; and it was not till we were in the carriage that he suggested the idea of seeing whether the pearly-robed lady had resumed her walk in the allée. You may judge how indifferent I was to that chance when I preferred turning back with you to going on with him. Between you and me, Marquis, to men of our age, "I did not forget your political creed; who have the business of life before them, but in England the leaders of opposition and feel that if there be aught in which attend the salons of the Prime Minister. noblesse oblige it is a severe devotion to A man is not supposed to compromise noble objects, there is nothing more fatal | his opinions because he exchanges social

"I am not born under those stars. I am a Legitimist."

more grateful to him who did not complacently compare himself to a shore, but considered himself a human being like themselves, and risked his own life in a boat, even though it were a cockle-shell, in the chance of saving theirs?"

courtesies with those to whom his opin- | benignant smile on his handsome face' ions are hostile. Pray excuse me if I am answered, 'All wrecks come to the shore indiscreet; I speak as a traveller who - the shore does not go to the wrecks.'" asks for information but do the Legiti- "Beautifully said!" exclaimed the mists really believe that they best serve Marquis. their cause by declining any mode of com- "Not if Le beau est toujours le vrai. peting with its opponents? Would there My father, no inexperienced nor unwise not be a fairer chance for the ultimate vic-politician, in repeating the royal words, tory of their principles if they made their remarked: The fallacy of the Count's talents and energies individually promi- argument is in its metaphor. A man is nent-if they were known as skilful gener- not a shore.' Do you not think that the als, practical statesmen, eminent diplomat-seamen on board the wrecks would be ists, brilliant writers? could they combine not to sulk and exclude themselves from the great battle-field of the world but in their several ways to render themselves of such use to their country that some day or other, in one of those revolutionary crises to which France, alas! must long be subjected, they would find themselves able to turn the scale of undecided councils and conflicting jealousies?" "Monsieur, we hope for the day when the Divine Disposer of events will strike into the hearts of our fickle and erring countrymen the conviction that there will be no settled repose for France save under the sceptre of her rightful kings. But meanwhile we are-I see it more clearly since I have quitted Bretagne we are a hopeless minority."

Alain de Rochebriant was a brave man, with that intense sentiment of patriotism which characterizes Frenchmen of every rank and persuasion, unless they belong to the Internationalists; and, without pausing to consider, he cried, "Your father was right."

The Englishman resumed: "Need I say, my dear Marquis, that I am not a Legitimist? I am not an Imperialist, neither am I an Orleanist nor a Republican. Between all those political divisions it is for Frenchmen to make their choice, and for Englishmen to accept for France that government which France has established. I view things here as a simple observer. But it strikes me that if I were a Frenchman in your position, I should think myself unworthy my ancestors if I consented to be an insignificant looker-on."

"You are not in my position," said the Marquis, half mournfully, half haughtily, "and you can scarcely judge of it even in imagination."

"Does not history tell us that the great changes of the world have been wrought by minorities? but on the one condition that the minorities shall not be hopeless? It is almost the other day that the Bonapartists were in a minority that their adversaries called hopeless, and the majority for the Emperor is now so preponderant that I tremble for his safety. When a majority becomes so vast that intellect disappears in the crowd, the date of its destruction commences; for by the law of reaction the minority is installed "I need not much task my imaginaagainst it. It is the nature of things that tion: I judge of it by analogy. I was minorities are always more intellectual very much in your position when I enthan multitudes, and intellect is ever at tered upon what I venture to call my cawork in sapping numerical force. What reer; and it is the curious similarity beyour party want is hope; because with- tween us in circumstances that made me out hope there is no energy. I remem- wish for your friendship when that simber hearing my father say that when he ilarity was made known to me by Lemermet the Count de Chambord at Ems, that cier, who is not less garrulous than the illustrious personage delivered himself of true Parisian usually is. Permit me to a belle phrase much admired by his par- say that, like you, I was reared in some tisans. The Emperor was then President pride of no inglorious ancestry. I was of the Republic, in a very doubtful and reared also in the expectation of great dangerous position. France seemed on wealth. Those expectations the verge of another convulsion. A cer- realized: my father had the fault of noble tain distinguished politician recommend-natures generosity pushed to imprued the Count de Chambord to hold him- dence: he died poor and in debt. You self ready to enter at once as a candidate retain the home of your ancestors; I had for the throne. And the Count, with a to resign mine."

were not

The Marquis had felt deeply interested | thors, politicians, especially those who call in this narrative, and as Graham now themselves Republicans. He and the paused, took his hand and pressed it.

"One of our most eminent personages said to me about that time, 'Whatever a clever man of your age determines to do or to be, the odds are twenty to one that he has only to live on in order to do or to be it. Don't you think he spoke truly? I think so."

Prince agree in one thing viz., the cordial reception they give to the men who would destroy the state of things upon which Prince and financier both thrive. Hillo! here comes Lemercier on his return from the Bois."

-a dame

Lemercier's coupé stopped beside the footpath. "What tidings of the Belle "I scarcely know what to think," said | Inconnue?" asked the Englishman. Rochebriant; "I feel as if you had given "None; she was not there. But I am me so rough a shake when I was in the rewarded-such an adventuremidst of a dull dream, that I do not yet of the haute volée - I believe she is a know whether I am asleep or awake." duchess. She was walking with a lapJust as he said this, and towards the dog, a pure Pomeranian. A strange Paris end of the Champs Elysées, there poodle flew at the Pomeranian. I drove was a halt, a sensation among the loung-off the poodle, rescued the Pomeranian, ers round them: many of them uncov-received the most gracious thanks, the ered in salute. sweetest smile:—femme superbe, mid

CHAPTER IV.

A man on the younger side of middle dle-aged. I prefer women of forty. Au age, somewhat inclined to corpulence, revoir, I am due at the club." with a very striking countenance, was Alain felt a sensation of relief that Leriding slowly by. He returned the salu- mercier had not seen the lady in the tations he received with the careless dig-pearl-coloured dress, and quitted the nity of a Personage accustomed to re- Englishman with a lightened heart. spect, and then reigned his horse by the side of a barouche, and exchanged some words with a portly gentleman who was its sole occupant. The loungers, still halting, seemed to contemplate this parley-between him on horseback and him in the carriage-with very eager interest. Some put their hands behind their ears and pressed forward, as if trying perhaps to a pair of very vivacious ing to overhear what was said.

"I wonder," quoth Graham, "whether, with all his cleverness, the Prince has in any way decided what he means to do or to be."

"Piccola, piccola! com'è cortese! another invitation from M. Louvier for next Saturday conversazione." This was said in Italian by an elderly lady bursting noisily into the room-elderly, yet with a youthful expression of face, ow

black eyes. She was dressed, after a somewhat slatternly fashion, in a wrapper of crimson merino much the worse for wear, a blue handkerchief twisted turban-like round her head, and her feet encased in list slippers. The person to whom she addressed herself was a young lady with dark hair, which, despite its "Do you not recognize him by his won- evident redundance, was restrained into derful likeness to the first Napoleon-smooth glossy braids over the forehead, him on horseback talking to Louvier, the great financier?"

"The Prince!" said Rochebriant, rousing himself from reverie; "what Prince?"

"Is that stout bourgeois in the carriage Louvier my mortgagee, Louvier ?

"Your mortgagee, my dear Marquis? Well, he is rich enough to be a very lenient one upon pay-day.”

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and at the crown of the small graceful head into the simple knot which Horace has described as Spartan." Her dress contrasted the speaker's by an exquisite neatness. We have seen her before as the lady in the pearl-coloured robe, but seen now at home she looks much younger. She was one of those whom, encountered in the streets or in society, one might guess to be married-probably a young bride; for thus seen there "Wrong! of course not; he is likely was about her an air of dignity and of to overwhelm you with civilities. Pray self-possession which suits well with the don't refuse if he gives you an invitation ideal of chaste youthful matronage; and to his soirée next Saturday- I am going in the expression of the face there was a to it. One meets there the notabilities pensive thoughtfulness beyond her years. most interesting to study - artists, au- | But as she now sat by the open window

"Hein!-I doubt his leniency," said Alain. "I have promised my avoué to meet him at dinner. Do you think I did wrong?"

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arranging flowers in a glass bowl, a book | is a sure sign of sluggish intellect and lying open on her lap, you would never coarse perception. Hers is the artist's have said, "What a handsome woman!" ear. Note next those hands - how beauyou would have said, "What a charming tifully shaped! small, but not doll-like girl. All about her was maidenly, in-hands-ready and nimble, firm and nernocent, and fresh. The dignity of her vous hands, that could work for a helpbearing was lost in household ease, the mate. By no means very white, still less pensiveness of her expression in an un- red, but somewhat embrowned as by the troubled serene sweetness. sun, such as you see in girls reared in southern climates, and in her perhaps betokening an impulsive character which had not accustomed itself, when at sport in the open air, to the thraldom of gloves very impulsive people even in cold climates seldom do.

In conveying to us by a few bold strokes an idea of the sensitive, quickmoved, warm-blooded Henry II., the most impulsive of the Plantagenets, his contemporary chronicler tells us that rather than imprison those active hands of his, even in hawking-gloves, he would suffer his falcon to fix its sharp claws into his wrist. No doubt there is a difference as

Perhaps many of my readers may have known friends engaged in some absorbing cause of thought, and who are in the habit when they go out, especially if on solitary walks, to take that cause of thought with them. The friend may be an orator meditating his speech, a poet his verses, a lawyer a difficult case, a physician an intricate malady. If you have such a friend, and you observe him thus away from his home, his face will seem to you older and graver. He is absorbed in the care that weighs on him. When you see him in a holiday moment at his own fireside, the care is thrown aside; perhaps he mastered while to what is befitting between a burly belabroad the difficulty that had troubled him; he is cheerful, pleasant, sunny. This appears to be very much the case with persons of genius. When in their own houses we usually find them very playful and childlike. Most persons of real genius, whatever they may seem out of doors, are very sweet-tempered at home, and sweet temper is sympathizing and genial in the intercourse of private life. Certainly, observing this girl as she now bends over the flowers, it would be difficult to believe her to be the Isaura Cicogna whose letters to Madame de Grantmesnil exhibit the doubts and struggles of an unquiet, discontented, aspiring mind. Only in one or two passages in those letters would you have guessed at the writer in the girl as we now see her.

It is in those passages where she expresses her love of harmony, and her repugnance to contest- - those were characteristics you might have read in her face.

Certainly the girl is very lovely-what long dark eyelashes, what soft, tender, dark-blue eyes-now that she looks up and smiles, what a bewitching smile it is! - by what sudden play of rippling dimples the smile is enlivened and redoubled! Do you notice one feature? in very showy beauties it is seldom noticed; but I, being in my way a physiognomist, consider that it is always worth heeding as an index of character. It is the ear. Remark how delicately it is formed in her -none of that heaviness of lobe which

licose creature like Henry II. and a delicate young lady like Isaura Cicogna; and one would not wish to see those dainty wrists of hers seamed and scarred by a falcon's claws. But a girl may not be less exquisitely feminine for slight heed of artificial prettinesses. Isaura had no

need of pale bloodless hands to seem one of Nature's highest grade of gentlewomen even to the most fastidious eyes. About her there was a charm apart from her mere beauty, and often disturbed instead of heightened by her mere intellect: it consisted in a combination of exquisite artistic refinement, and of a generosity of character by which refinement was animated into vigour and warmth.

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The room, which was devoted exclusively to Isaura, had in it much that spoke of the occupant. That room, when first taken furnished, had a good deal of the comfortless showiness which belongs to ordinary furnished apartments France, especially in the Parisian suburbs, chiefly let for the summer. -thin limp muslin curtains that decline to draw, stiff mahogany chairs covered with yellow Utrecht velvet, a tall secrétaire in a dark corner, an oval buhl-table set in tawdry ormolu, islanded in the centre of a poor but gaudy Scotch carpet, and but one other table of dull walnut-wood standing clothless before a sofa to match the chairs; the eternal ormolu clock flanked by the two eternal ormolu candelabra on the dreary mantelpiece. Some of this garniture had been removed, others soft

'Ne caldo ne gelo
Resto mai in cielo.'

ened into cheeriness and comfort. The room somehow or other, thanks partly to a very moderate expenditure in pretty And such beautiful ices one gets at M. twills with pretty borders, gracefully sim- Louvier's. Did you taste the Pistachio ple table-covers, with one or two addi- ice? What fine rooms, and so well lit tional small tables and easy-chairs, two up! I adore light. And the ladies so simple vases filled with flowers-thanks beautifully dressed -one sees the fashstill more to a nameless skill in rear- ions. Stay at home-play at Euchre inrangement, and the disposal of the slight deed! Piccola, you cannot be so cruel nicknacks and well-bound volumes, which, to yourself - you are young." even in travelling, women, who have cultivated the pleasures of taste, carry about with them, had been coaxed into that quiet harmony, that tone of consistent subdued colour, which corresponded with the characteristics of the inmate. Most people might have been puzzled where to place the piano, a semi-grand, so as not to take up too much space in the little room; but where it was placed it seemed so at home that you might have supposed the room had been built for it.

There are two kinds of neatness-one is too evident, and makes everything about it seem trite and cold and stiff, and another kind of neatness disappears from our sight in a satisfied sense of completeness-like some exquisite, simple, finished style of writing-an Addison's or

a St. Pierre's.

"But, dear Madre, just consider — we are invited because we are considered professional singers: your reputation as such is of course established-mine is not; but still I shall be asked to sing as I was asked before; and you know Dr. C forbids me to do so except to a very small audience; and it is so ungracious always to say 'No;' and besides, did you not yourself say, when we came away last time from M. Louvier's, that it was very dull - that you knew nobody — and that the ladies had such superb toilettes that you felt mortified — and

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"Zitto! zitto! you talk idly, Piccola very idly. I was mortified then in my old black Lyons silk; but have I not bought since then my beautiful Greek jacket-scarlet and gold lace? and why should I buy it if I am not to show it?"

This last sort of neatness belonged to "But, dear Madre, the jacket is cerIsaura, and brought to mind the well- tainly very handsome, and will make an known line of Catullus when on recross-effect in a little dinner at the Savarins or ing his threshold he invokes its welcome Mrs. Morley's. But in a great formal -a line thus not inelegantly translated reception like M. Louvier's will it not by Leigh Hunt

Smile every dimple on the cheek of Home.

I entreat the reader's pardon for this long descriptive digression: but Isaura is one of those characters which are called many-sided, and therefore not very easy to comprehend. She gives us one side of her character in her correspondence with Madame de Grantmesnil, and another side of it in her own home with her Italian companion-half nurse, half chaperon.

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"Splendid!" interrupted the Signora. "But singolare."

"So much the better; did not that great English lady wear such a jacket, and did not every one admire her-più toslo invidia che compassione?"

Isaura sighed. Now the jacket of the Signora was a subject of disquietude to her friend. It so happened that a young English lady of the highest rank and the rarest beauty had appeared at M. Louvier's, and indeed generally in the beau monde of Paris, in a Greek jacket that became her very much. That jacket had fascinated, at M. Louvier's, the eyes of the Signora. But of this Isaura was unaware. The Signora, on returning home from M. Louvier's, had certainly lamented much over the mesquin appearance of her Own old-fashioned Italian habiliments "You can't mean it, Piccola!" ex- compared with the brilliant toilet of the claimed the Signora in evident consterna- gay Parisiennes; and Isaura-quite wotion. "Stay at home! why stay at man enough to sympathize with woman home? Euchre is very well when there in such womanly vanities proposed is nothing else to do; but change is the next day to go with the Signora pleasant le bon Dieu likes it to one of the principal couturières of

"Monsieur Louvier is indeed very courteous," said Isaura, looking up from the flowers with the dimpled smile we have noticed. "But I think, Madre, that we should do well to stay at home on Saturday not peacefully, for I owe you your revenge at Euchre."

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