Part 25 (1/2)

'But you would not like to live in the country only,' said Mr. Temple.

'Ah! you do not know me!' sighed the sentimental Mrs. Montgomery Floyd.

'If you only knew how I love flowers! I wish you could but see my conservatory in Park-lane!'

'And how did you find Bath this year, Lady Bellair?' enquired Miss Temple.

'Oh! my dear, I met a charming man there, I forget his name, but the most distinguished person I ever met; so very handsome, so very witty, and with blood in his veins, only I forget his name, and it is a very good name, too. My dear,' addressing herself to Mrs. Montgomery Floyd, 'tell me the name of my favourite.'

Mrs. Montgomery Floyd looked a little puzzled: 'My great favourite!'

exclaimed the irritated Lady Bellair, rapping her fan against the sofa.

'Oh! why do you not remember names! I love people who remember names. My favourite, my Bath favourite. What is his name? He is to dine with me in town. What is the name of my Bath favourite who is certainly to dine with me in town?'

'Do you mean Captain Armine?' enquired Mrs. Montgomery Floyd. Miss Temple turned pale. 'That is the man,' said Lady Bellair. 'Oh! such a charming man. You shall marry him, my dear; you shall not marry Lord Fitzwarrene.'

'But you forget he is going to be married,' said Mrs. Montgomery Floyd.

Miss Temple tried to rise, but she could not. She held down her head. She felt the fever in her cheek. 'Is our engagement, then, so notorious?' she thought to herself.

'Ah! yes, I forgot he was going to be married,' said Lady Bellair.

'Well, then, it must be Lord Fitzwarrene. Besides, Captain Armine is not rich, but he has got a very fine place though, and I will go and stop there some day. And, besides, he is over head-and-ears in debt, so they say. However, he is going to marry a very rich woman, and so all will be right. I like old families in decay to get round again.'

Henrietta dreaded that her father should observe her confusion; she had recourse to every art to prevent it. 'Dear Ferdinand,' she thought to herself, 'thy very rich wife will bring thee, I fear, but a poor dower.

Ah! would he were here!'

'Whom is Captain Armine going to marry?' enquired Mr. Temple.

'Oh! a very proper person,' said Lady Bellair. 'I forget her name. Miss Twoshoes, or something. What is her name, my dear?'

'You mean Miss Grandison, madam?' responded Mrs. Montgomery Floyd.

'To be sure, Miss Grandison, the great heiress. The only one left of the Grandisons. I knew her grandfather. He was my son's schoolfellow.'

'Captain Armine is a near neighbour of ours,' said Mr. Temple.

'Oh! you know him,' said Lady Bellair. 'Is not he charming?'

'Are you certain he is going to be married to Miss Grandison?' enquired Mr. Temple.

'Oh! there is no doubt in the world,' said Mrs. Montgomery Floyd.

'Everything is quite settled. My most particular friend, Lady Julia Harteville, is to be one of the bridesmaids. I have seen all the presents. Both the families are at Bath at this very moment. I saw the happy pair together every day. They are related, you know. It is an excellent match, for the Armines have great estates, mortgaged to the very last acre. I have heard that Sir Ratcliffe Armine has not a thousand a year he can call his own. We are all so pleased,' added Mrs.

Montgomery Floyd, as if she were quite one of the family. 'Is it not delightful?'

'They are to be married next month,' said Lady Bellair. 'I did not quite make the match, but I did something. I love the Grandisons, because Lord Grandison was my son's friend fifty years ago.'

'I never knew a person so pleased as Lady Armine is,' continued Mrs.