A MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. EDITED BY THE AUTHORESS OF ‘FLIRTATION.’ “I was compelled to _her_—but I love _thee_ By love’s own sweet constraint.” IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. 1828. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ A MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. * * * * * CHAPTER I. Now, in his turn, offended and surprised, The knight in silence from her side withdrew; With pain she marked it, but her pain disguised, And heedless seemed her journey to pursue, Nor backward deigned to him one anxious view, As oft she wished. PSYCHE. EASTER was now fast approaching, and Fitzhenry announced to Emmeline his intention of going out of town for a fortnight,—but not to Arlingford—And he concluded by saying, that, of course, he supposed she would like to pass the time with her father at Charlton. At any other time, and under any other circumstances, how gladly would she have availed herself of the opportunity of returning to her former, peaceful, happy home! But, like a sick person, her feverish mind had for some time past dwelt on Arlingford. She longed to find herself again there, for there, they _must_ meet—there they _might_ be alone! and she could not help hoping for some explanation between them, which might make her, at least, less miserable. Fitzhenry’s manner towards her had of late changed: it had no longer the ease of indifference, the coldness of mere civility; but, alas! it had only changed to apparent dislike, or at least displeasure. He observed her more; but his observations seemed always to prejudice him still more against her. And yet, what could she do? or what leave undone? She had tried all means to please him, and all had failed. She first had followed the dictates of her own heart, and then, relying on Pelham’s knowledge of her husband’s character, and on his advice, she had played a part most unnatural to her—that of a gay, unfeeling woman of the world, when her heart was breaking. All, in turn, seemed to be wrong.