The frequent knocks, and rapidly repeated succession of names, announced to Selina that the Ides of March were come. Lady Eltondale took her station in the most conspicuous part of the rooms, for the purpose of receiving her guests; and never was the fascinating elegance of her manners more conspicuously displayed than on such occasions. At first she kept Selina leaning on her arm, for the purpose of showing her blushing charms to all, and of actually introducing her to a favored few. But the rooms rapidly filling, and the music being commenced, Lady Eltondale left Miss Seymour under the peculiar protection of the old Dutchess of Saltoun, whose countenance showed how truly she was delighted with her young acquaintance. But Lady Eltondale, in withdrawing from Selina, did not cease to observe all her motions. Nor was she a little gratified at the universal murmur of applause her appearance excited, thus bursting into view in all the heightened effect of unexpected beauty. All the fashionable beaux in the room crowded round the new star, expressing, in all the variety of tones and gestures, their admiration of her loveliness: at last, their profuse compliments confusing, rather than gratifying Selina, she looked anxiously round for her aunt, and perceived her standing in earnest conversation with two gentlemen, in one of whom, with equal surprise and pleasure, she recognised Augustus, and the other she rightly conjectured to be Lord Osselstone. CHAPTER IV. Quando muovo le luci a mirar voi, La forma che nel cor m'impressa Amore, Io mi sento agghiacciar dentro e di fuore, Al primo lampeggiar de' raggi moi. A le nobil maniere affiso poi, A le rare virtuti, al gran valore, Ragionarmi pian piano, odo nel core[4]. ARIOSTO. [Footnote 4: When tremblingly I raise my eyes To view that form, which in my breast The hand of Love has deep impressed, My shiv'ring frame, in sudden trance, Congeals beneath thy lightning glance; But soon my heart, in broken sighs, Renews the tale it told before, And, counting all thy beauties o'er, Dwells on thy talents, virtues rare, Thy mind so pure, thy form so fair, Till even hope amid the whispers dies. N. B. Freezing beneath a _lightning_ glance, in the original--a fair example of Italian concetti.]