intellect, whose pride, were all abundant, but, abundant as they were, still all subservient to electric and tumultuous _sensation_. Her life, her impulse--the consciousness with which she breathed--was the one gift given her by Heaven in tenfold measure, and her impression on those she expanded to, was like the magnetizing presence of ten full existences poured into one. The heart acknowledged it before her--though the reason knew not always why. Lord ---- would scarce have been human had he not loved such a woman, and she his wife. He did love her--and doubtless loves her at this hour with all the tenderness of which he could ever be capable. If they had lived only on their estates in England, where seclusion would have put up no wall of concealment to his feelings, she might have drawn from the open well of his heart, the water for which her ardent being was athirst. But with the usage of fashionable life, he followed his own amusements during the day, leaving the countess to hers; and in scenes of gayety they were, of course, still separated by custom; and all she enjoyed of nature in her rides, or of excitement in society, was, of course, with others than her husband. Naples is in the midst of palace-gardens, and of wonders of scenery--in seeing which love is engendered in the bosom and brain with tropical fruitfulness--and Lady ---- could no more have lived that year in Italy without passionate loving, than she could have stayed from breathing the fragrance of the orange blossoms, when galloping between the terraced gardens of Sorrento. * * * * *