Part 36 (2/2)

Poor Ferdinand Armine! it was the first time he had experienced the maddening pangs of jealousy.

Yet how he had loved this woman! How he had doated on her! And now they might have been so happy! There is nothing that depresses a man so much as the conviction of bad fortune. There seemed, in this sudden return, great wealth, and impending marriage of Henrietta Temple, such a combination, so far as Ferdinand Armine was concerned, of vexatious circ.u.mstances; it would appear that he had been so near perfect happiness and missed it, that he felt quite weary of existence, and seriously meditated depriving himself of it.

It so happened that he had promised this day to dine at his cousin's; for Glas...o...b..ry, who was usually his companion, had accepted an invitation this day to dine with the n.o.ble widow of his old patron.

Ferdinand, however, found himself quite incapable of entering into any society, and he hurried to his hotel to send a note of excuse to Brook-street. As he arrived, Glas...o...b..ry was just about to step into a hackney-coach, so that Ferdinand had no opportunity of communicating his sorrows to his friend, even had he been inclined.

CHAPTER III.

_In Which Glas...o...b..ry Meets the Very Last Person in the World He Expected, and the Strange Consequences_.

WHEN Glas...o...b..ry arrived at the mansion of the good old d.u.c.h.ess, he found n.o.body in the drawing-room but a young man of distinguished appearance, whose person was unknown to him, but who nevertheless greeted him with remarkable cordiality. The good Glas...o...b..ry returned, with some confusion, his warm salutation.

'It is many years since we last met, Mr. Glas...o...b..ry,' said the young man. 'I am not surprised you have forgotten me. I am Digby; perhaps you recollect me?'

'My dear child! My dear lord! You have indeed changed! You are a man, and I am a very old one.' 'Nay! my dear sir, I observe little change.

Believe me, I have often recalled your image in my long absence, and I find now that my memory has not deceived me.'

Glas...o...b..ry and his companion fell into some conversation about the latter's travels, and residence at Rome, in the midst of which their hostess entered.

'I have asked you, my dear sir, to meet our family circle,' said her Grace, 'for I do not think I can well ask you to meet any who love you better. It is long since you have seen Digby.'

'Mr. Glas...o...b..ry did not recognise me, grandmamma,' said Lord Montfort.

'These sweet children have all grown out of your sight, Mr.

Glas...o...b..ry,' said the d.u.c.h.ess; 'but they are very good. And as for Digby, I really think he comes to see his poor grandmother every day.'

The duke and d.u.c.h.ess, and two young daughters, were now announced.

'I was so sorry that I was not at home when you called, Glas...o...b..ry,'

said his Grace; 'but I thought I should soon hear of you at grandmamma's.'

'And, dear Mr. Glas...o...b..ry, why did you not come up and see me?' said the younger d.u.c.h.ess.

'And, dear Mr. Glas...o...b..ry, do you remember me?' said one beautiful daughter.

'And me, Mr. Glas...o...b..ry, me? I am Isabella.'

Blus.h.i.+ng, smiling, bowing, constrained from the novelty of his situation, and yet every now and then quite at ease when his ear recalled a familiar voice, dear Mr. Glas...o...b..ry was gratified and happy.

The duke took him aside, and they were soon engaged in conversation.

'How is Henrietta to-day, Digby?' enquired Isabella.

'I left her an hour ago; we have been riding, and expected to meet you all. She will be here immediately.'

There was a knock, and soon the drawing-room door opened, and Miss Temple was announced.

'I must make papa's apologies,' said Henrietta, advancing and embracing the old d.u.c.h.ess. 'I hope he may get here in the evening: but he bade me remind your Grace that your kind invitation was only provisionally accepted.'

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