'Hope withering fled, and mercy sighed farewell!'" "Bravo, Miss Vernon, you have converted me," cried the Colonel. "Yes," said Lady Desmond, "I believe you are right, Kate." "You demand perfection," observed the Earl, gloomily. "I fear," said Miss Vernon, half ashamed of her enthusiasm, "I have talked a great deal too much." "But the modern school of poets, who draw their inspiration from a mushroom, or pig-sty, or an old man afflicted with the rheumatism, are, I confess, too transcendental for me; I cannot interest myself in such anti-poetical subjects," remarked Lord Effingham. "I rather like Longfellow; and Kate, I believe, considers him the first of poets," said Lady Desmond. "Not exactly," replied Miss Vernon. "Explain then, why it is that such a school has become so prevalent; and in painting too! The Royal Academy is filled with 'Dames' schools,' markets and kitchen scenery, and seems to endeavour in every way to make the modern and ancient style as unlike as the nature of the art will admit," rejoined the Earl. "It is the confoundedly democratic tone of society; none but mechanics have money to buy pictures now," said Colonel Dashwood. "It is the craving for novelty so prevalent in the present day," said Lady Desmond. "Mr. Winter," said Miss Vernon, "used to say, that it was the gradual development of truth, that people began to see; it was absurd to consider that Oriental life had greater elements of poetry than our own, because it was farther off; or that princes or dukes, kings and queens, were the only subjects fit for poetry and painting, but that we began to feel that life, high or low, wherever sentient beings existed, loved, hated, or struggled, was matter enough for poetry or pictures." "Mr. Winter is Miss Vernon's mentor, you must know," observed Lady Desmond. "A capital fellow, he was most kind to Fred Egerton, so hospitable and droll," said the Colonel. Further conversation was interrupted by the breaking up of the whist tables, and the subsequent departure of the guests. "Can you take me into town with you to-morrow?" asked Lady Elizabeth of Lady Desmond. "Do you know whether Mrs. Meredyth returns from ---- to-morrow?" "They do not come back till next week." "I am sorry for it; I wished to ask one of the girls to stay with Miss Vernon, she will be all alone." "How long do you remain in town?" asked Lord Effingham, carelessly. "Until Friday; I cannot get off a dinner at Mrs. ----'s; and when I am in town, I may as well stay and hear Sir Robert Peel speak on the ---- Bill; they say it will come before the House on Thursday night. But I am uneasy about leaving Kate." "Well, Miss Vernon, if you are inconsolable for the want of my cousin's society, I will send an express to recall them." "Oh, I do not mind in the least," said Kate, hastily, "that is, of course--"