He arrived late--most of the guests were assembled; and, after exchanging a few words with his host, Ernest fell back into the general group, and found himself in the immediate neighbourhood of Lady Florence Lascelles. This lady had never much pleased Maltravers, for he was not fond of masculine or coquettish heroines, and Lady Florence seemed to him to merit both epithets; therefore, though he had met her often since the first day he had been introduced to her, he had usually contented himself with a distant bow or a passing salutation. But now, as he turned round and saw her, she was, for a miracle, sitting alone; and in her most dazzling and noble countenance there was so evident an appearance of ill health, that he was struck and touched by it. In fact, beautiful as she was, both in face and form, there was something in the eye and the bloom of Lady Florence, which a skilful physician would have seen with prophetic pain. And, whenever occasional illness paled the roses of the cheek, and sobered the play of the lips, even an ordinary observer would have thought of the old commonplace proverb--"that the brightest beauty has the briefest life." It was some sentiment of this kind, perhaps, that now awakened the sympathy of Maltravers. He addressed her with more marked courtesy than usual, and took a seat by her side. "You have been to the House, I suppose, Mr. Maltravers?" said Lady Florence. "Yes, for a short time; it is not one of our field nights--no division was expected; and by this time, I dare say, the House has been counted out." "Do you like the life?" "It has excitement," said Maltravers, evasively. "And the excitement is of a noble character?" "Scarcely so, I fear--it is so made up of mean and malignant motives,--there is in it so much jealousy of our friends, so much unfairness to our enemies;--such readiness to attribute to others the basest objects,--such willingness to avail ourselves of the poorest stratagems! The ends may be great, but the means are very ambiguous." "I knew /you/ would feel this," exclaimed Lady Florence, with a heightened colour. "Did you?" said Maltravers, rather interested as well as surprised. "I scarcely imagined it possible that you would deign to divine secrets so insignificant." "You did not do me justice, then," returned Lady Florence, with an arch yet half-painful smile; "for--but I was about to be impertinent." "Nay, say on." For--then--I do not imagine you to be one apt to do injustice to yourself." "Oh, you consider me presumptuous and arrogant; but that is common report, and you do right, perhaps, to believe it." "Was there ever any one unconscious of his own merit?" asked Lady Florence, proudly. "They who distrust themselves have good reason for it." "You seek to cure the wound you inflicted," returned Maltravers, smiling.