"Not so indolent as you suppose," said his friend. "Legard meditates an excursion sufficient, I hope, to redeem his character in your eyes. It is a long journey, and, what is worse, a very cold journey, to Vienna." "Vienna! do you think of going to Vienna?" cried Caroline. "Yes," said Legard. "I hate Paris; any place better than this odious city!" and he moved away. Evelyn's eyes followed him sadly and gravely. She remained by Lady Doltimore's side, abstracted and silent for several minutes. Meanwhile Caroline, turning to Lord Devonport (the friend who had proposed the Viennese excursion), said, "It is cruel in you to go to Vienna,--it is doubly cruel to rob Lord Doltimore of his best friend and Paris of its best waltzer." "Oh, it is a voluntary offer of Legard's, Lady Doltimore,--believe me, I have used no persuasive arts. But the fact is, that we have been talking of a fair widow, the beauty of Austria, and as proud and as unassailable as Ehrenbreitstein itself. Legard's vanity is piqued; and so--as a professed lady-killer--he intends to see what can be effected by the handsomest Englishman of his time." Caroline laughed, and new claimants on her notice succeeded to Lord Devonport. It was not till the ladies were waiting their carriage in the shawl-room that Lady Doltimore noticed the paleness and thoughtful brow of Evelyn. "Are you fatigued or unwell, dear?" she said. "No," answered Evelyn, forcing a smile; and at that moment they were joined by Maltravers, with the intelligence that it would be some minutes before the carriage could draw up. Caroline amused herself in the interval by shrewd criticisms on the dresses and characters of her various friends. Caroline had grown an amazing prude in her judgment of others! "What a turban!--prudent for Mrs. A----- to wear,--bright red; it puts out her face, as the sun puts out the fire. Mr. Maltravers, do observe Lady B----- with that _very_ young gentleman. After all her experience in angling, it is odd that she should still only throw in for small fish. Pray, why is the marriage between Lady C----- D----- and Mr. F----- broken off? Is it true that he is so much in debt, and is so very--very profligate? They say she is heartbroken." "Really, Lady Doltimore," said Maltravers, smiling, "I am but a bad scandal-monger. But poor F----- is not, I believe, much worse than others. How do we know whose fault it is when a marriage is broken off? Lady C----- D----- heartbroken! what an idea! Nowadays there is never any affection in compacts of that sort; and the chain that binds the frivolous nature is but a gossamer thread! Fine gentlemen and fine ladies, their loves and their marriages-- "'May flourish and may fade; A breath can make them, as a breath has made.' "Never believe that a heart long accustomed to beat only in good society can be broken,--it is rarely ever touched!"