"Nothing is so tiresome," replied Lord Baskerville, "as low people who are always diverted. They must be false or fools, a-hem! after their first existence in the world--hem! _our_ world I mean--hem! As to me, I don't care for any thing or any body, and am always bored to death here, a-hem! ar'n't you?" "_C'est selon_," answered the comtesse in her most abrupt manner. "Don't you know," cried Lady De Chere, "that there are a certain number of people who live upon getting up scenes all their life? they are always either fainting, or crying, or haranguing." "It's very bad taste," rejoined Lord Baskerville, "at all events--hem!" At this moment Lord Glenmore came up to his wife, betraying considerable agitation, and inquiring tenderly of Lady Glenmore how she felt, and speaking to her in a low voice of earnest solicitude; to which she replied with answering affection.--Mr. Leslie Winyard moved away, affecting more displeasure than he really felt. "What a fuss Glenmore is in! Vulgar!--hem! I cannot conceive," said Lord Baskerville, "why people should display their conjugal felicities to the world." "The old song, I think," observed Lord Raynham, who was passing by, and overheard the remark, "gives good advice:-- 'Ne cherchez pas la quintessence; Contentez-vous de l'apparence. Qui veut trop voir, et trop savoir, Trouve souvent plus qu'il ne pense.' "A polite inquiry, that did not enter into particulars, might perhaps have suited better the interest of all parties, than that apparently minute inspection of circumstances--eh! Baskerville?" with a sort of sneering smile--"don't you agree with me?" "Certainly, hem! nothing is so mistaken, or argues such want of knowledge of the world, as to be _affairé_ about any thing." "_To be_," observed the Comtesse Leinsengen, "is one ting, to _seem_ to be is anoder: in dat lies de _savoir vivre_ or de no _savoir_. But did I not hear my carriage was up?" "Yes, comtesse; allow me to have the honour;" and she accepted his offered arm and departed. "D'Esterre," said Lord Glenmore, "I leave you to take care of Lady Glenmore, whilst I go in quest of our carriage; your gallantry will, I am sure, accept the charge." Lord Albert felt really flattered, and would at any other time have been happy to have such a post assigned to him, had it not been that he feared in consequence to lose seeing Lady Adeline. This thought gave his countenance an anxious, serious air, which the men around did not fail to comment upon. But Mr. Leslie Winyard could scarcely conceal his ill-humour. The husband to cross him was bad enough, but another man, and that man Lord Albert D'Esterre, whom of all others he most disliked, was gall and bitterness to him. He approached Lady Glenmore, however, casting a look of insolence towards Lord Albert; but the serious, preoccupied demeanour of the latter prevented his even observing the impertinence intended for him.