She first broke silence (speaking in a low tone). "How many misnomers there are in the world; this society considers itself the mode and paragon of manners and of fashion--the world _par excellence_; and yet the members of it are always doing or saying something to offend the feelings of each other. Why was a being like myself thrown amongst them? one who sees their falsehood and folly, and yet cannot escape from it. But on the contrary, every day as it passes seems more and more to entangle me. I possess indeed one friend, from whom I look for consolation; but _he_, like every one in this world, has his own troubles, and indeed I have sometimes feared, that is I fear"--she broke off abruptly as if to find a suitable expression for what she would say, then again continued after a pause--"that I did not altogether act a generous part by him; one may excite a deeper interest than one intends, for it is so soothing to a desolate heart, to find any one whom it can like, and rest upon, that it is easy to be betrayed into a conduct, that would afterwards perhaps render one obnoxious to the imputation of coquetry; the character for which of all others, I have the most decided contempt. I have not yet learnt from you, Lord Albert D'Esterre," laying particular emphasis on her words, "that firm independence of mind, which never yields under circumstances; for whatever vain disputation I may hold with myself, I find I am continually yielding to the influence of events, and floating down the tide of life, guided more by impulse, than by principle. It will perhaps be as well in the end--who knows?" Lord Albert D'Esterre had listened with evident pain to the sophistry these words contained, and as Lady Hamlet Vernon paused, added in his most impressive manner: "Oh! dear Lady Hamlet Vernon, I fear it will undoubtedly _not_ be well with us in the end, if we live by chance; and we may all know, if we chuse to know, that so to live will prove our condemnation." "Persuade me of _that_, teach me your knowledge, and I will act upon it; give me your conviction and I will bless you." "Surely," thought Lord Albert D'Esterre, "it is my duty to reclaim this person from the unhappy and destructive errors into which she has fallen; it would be altogether wrong, it would be barbarous, to abandon one, who calls upon me for aid, who appeals to _me_ for instruction." Not but another view of the subject crossed his mind, for thoughts, as we all know, flow in from contradictory sources. "Surely the friend to whom you allude, and on whom you say you rely, will be a far more able instructor than I can be." "Ay, so he might (she replied) if"----"If what?"----"If I durst on all occasions apply to him--but--but there are existing reasons to which I before alluded, and which I now frankly tell you, have frequently made me deny myself the consolation of his society. We shall see how things are now, when we are to meet again after a long absence."