dine with some men at La Favorite,' but you may depend upon my calling on you, my sweet friend, the morning after, and then, dear Arabella, we must consult about future meetings." The day after to-morrow," she repeated; "oh, that is very long! But you will not fail me then, dear Edward? You will be sure to come?" Whereupon he reassured her gentle heart by an oath, kissed her hand, and departed whistling "Rory O'More." The young gentleman kept his oath. On the day after the morrow he came again, but instead of being welcomed by the charming countess in person, he received the following note, put into his hand by the maid of the lodging-house, with something very like a broad grin. "My husband, my tyrant husband, is about to drag me from Baden and from you! Imagine my despair and pity it! Gracious Heaven! is it possible! Is that hateful rumbling the sound of the diligence into which within five minutes I must throw myself, in order to be dragged away from the only man who ever possessed my heart. He comes he comes! Farewell, Edward! Oh, a long farewell! But, perhaps, not for ever! "ARABELLA." "How very lucky," exclaimed the unfeeling young man. "I was desperately afraid that I should hear she was going to follow me." Before the day was half over, however, he discovered that not only a multitude of pretty things, the purchase of which he had certainly sanctioned during the first affectionate weeks of their intimacy, but a very alarming amount of other articles had, as it now appeared, been set down at more than one shop to his account, which, added to the croupier's claims against him, formed a sum total that disagreeably startled him. There was little use, however, in reading and re-reading the items, or in swearing either at the pretty articles themselves, or at their pretty wearer; something more business-like must be done, and the best thing he could think of was to go to the shops with the bills in his hand, and demand with a good deal of vehement indignation, how the devil they dared to send in bills to him with which he had nothing to do; concluding his spirited remonstrance by saying, "Do you take me for the countess's husband, you scélérat ?" "Assurément, non, monsieur," replied the master of the shop, with an obsequious smile. "Then carry your bills to the person who is," returned Edward, in a blustering tone. I should like to know what sort of law it must be, that could make me pay the bills of another man's wife." "Come here, Arnauld," said the master of the shop to a young man, who was standing at the opposite counter," and you too, Ernest," he added, addressing another, who was lounging at the door. "Have you not, both of you, served this gentleman at different times with various articles ordered by him for use of Madame de Marquemont?" "Yes," and "yes," replied stoutly and positively each of the persons applied to. Edward knit his brows, stamped with his foot, nay, even clenched his fist as he began a bullying reply, but the gentle, peaceful smile, with which the travelling Parisian mercer regarded him, stopped him short, and he concluded his remonstance, by muting, "The word of your garçons de boutique will not be taken against mine." "We shall be three to one, sir," replied the mercer, with another of his civil smiles; "besides, to be perfectly frank, monsieur, I have other evidence as to the nature of the transaction. I am perfectly prepared to prove before the tribunals that I was not in the habit of trusting Madame de Marquemont-nay, that I had positively refused to trust her three days only before the date of the first entry in this bill. It was you, sir, whom I trusted," he continued, with a bow of profound respect. "If you remember, sir, the lady said, Do give your name, dear friend-the people don't know me.'" Edward bit his lips. There was not so much of able mimicry in the man's tone and manner, that the unlucky young Englishman, even if he had previously forgotten the fact, could not fail to have remembered the words when so repeated. "D'ailleurs, monsieur," resumed the courteous mercer, "your address, as well as your distinguished name and appearance, was quite a sufficient guarantee. We all know that none but the most illustrious families ever take the Balcony House-and every thing, you must be aware, monsieur, is immediately known in a little place like this-so different from Paris! There was not a tradesman in the town who did not immediately know that the Balcony family had hired a carriage for the summer, and were on terms of the most intimate friendship with Milor Lynberry "And the thing shall be done, ma'am," and Milor Montgomery. Ah! monsieur, he replied, as soon after we leave this who would have a scruple of accepting cursed place, as you shall be pleased to put your name as a guarantee! No one, as- the needful quantity of tin into my hands. surément!-and accordingly, monsieur, it An old woman-I beg your pardon, ma'am, has been accepted by myself, as well as by may not be quite as much up to all the turnall the other most fashionable marchands at ings and twistings of such a job as a young the Baths. Nor have we, any of us, the man, 'twould not be quite fair to expect it; slightest fear that we shall find cause to but yet, mother, I won't believe that you are regret our noble confidence!" such a fool as not to know that a man cannot get through with it without a good fist-full of ready money. As soon as you can manage to scratch together a hundred pounds for me, after these d-d debts are paid, I will turn your hateful Miss Bertha into Mrs. Edward Roberts in no time." Mr. Edward Roberts had not a word more to say against a claim so every way well established. However, for consistency's sake, he again knit his brows, and then said, "At any rate, you must wait a few days for it." The mercer again bowed low. "Whenever it suited the convenience of monsieur," he said. "Any time within the next week would be perfectly satisfactory to him. A family of such distinction as that of monsieur, could not leave Baden in the style that had suited Madame de Marquemont, who, cependant, etait, il faut l'avouer, une femme charmante." With such satisfaction as could be derived from this opinion, the unfortunate Edward quitted the shop, but found more solid consolation in the conviction that his father and mother would not leave him behind in a gaol, than even in the sympathetic admiration of the shop-keeper for Madame de Marquemont. Although these conditions were by no means unreasonable, they were by no means easy-and Mrs. Roberts fairly groaned. "Oh! very well, ma'am," resumed the young gentleman. "I am by no means in a hurry about it, I assure you. I will not deny that, as things seem to be going, the scheme which, as I shall manage it, cannot fail, may be convenient; but, nevertheless, it is too disagreeable for me to be at all in a hurry about it. It is you who are to look out about it, remember, and not I. All I can say is, if you will furnish the money, I will marry the girl. And if that does not content you, I can't help it." "It does, it does content me," replied his mother, eagerly, "and the money shall be forthcoming if I guide your father's hand to make him draw for it." "Nay, it must be done at once, Edward," replied his mother. "Your father has got into a queer sort of care-for-nothing way lately, which will make getting another draft easy enough. Though it is not very pleasant either to see him do what one asks, just as if he was asleep." It was to his mother, therefore, that this pretty specimen of the English nation betook himself, in order to find the means of "And when am I to have the cash that confirming the French shop-keeper's favor- is to free me from the gripe of all the rasable opinion of himself and his distin- cals here?" demanded the young gentleguished family, and he certainly found, not-man. withstanding the astounding demand for fresh supplies that he brought upon her, that he was right in conjecturing he should not be left behind in a gaol. Mrs. Roberts, however, did begin to feel that a few more months passed like the three last, would bring her pecuniary affairs into rather a desperate condition, and therefore having distinctly answered Edward's distinct question of "Dou you intend, ma'am, to leave me here to rot in a gaol?" in the negative, which answer, by the way, she gave as promptly as distinctly, for her son looked at her as she asked the question with such wide-open round eyes, that she was quite frightened, she ventured to hint that the sooner he put himself in possession of Miss Harrington's fortune, the better it would certainly be for himself and his family, as he must, by this time be aware. "Dear me, ma'am," returned her lively son, "I should have thought that must be the pleasantest possible state in which to find him, when he was required to transact business, unless, indeed, he could be brought to such a desirable state of lucidity as to give his signature when he was asleep outright." "For shame, Edward! How can you talk so?" replied the conscientious mother. "You know, my dear, 1 have always made. it a most particular point with you and your sisters, that you should always treat your father with the greatest respect. He with positive satisfaction to this cat-in-a is a very good man, Edward, though per- basket sort of mode of being conveyed over haps he may not be quite as bright as his some of the most beautiful and most interchildren. But it is not his fault, remem-esting country in the world. She knew ber, if he had not quite such a mother as what it was to look in the society of the you have had." things we call Roberts, and now she knew also what it was to enjoy the happiness, the intense happiness which "bountiful sweet Heaven" can pour into our hearts, through our eyes, when the spirit is roused up and awakened by the companionship of a friend -a friend like Vincent. So that Bertha, like the rest of the party, very greatly preferred getting on as fast as possible to any lingering on the road. The sneer with which this well-broughtup youth turned up his heel, and concluded the interview, was an offering from his heart to both his parents, and might, with out falsifying his feelings, have been divided very equally between them. All that now remained to be done before again packing themselves into the identical veterino equipage which had conveyed them to Baden, was to take a proper leave of Agatha's illustrious friend the Princess Fuskymuskoff. They parted fondly, and with mutual regret; the princess was in every respect exactly such a friend as suited Miss Agatha, and Miss Agatha was in every respect exactly such a friend as suited the princess. So they mutually promised a punctual correspondence by letters, and the princess very positively declared that if she were fortunate enough to obtain a prolonged leave of absence from the Emperor of Russia, and the prince her husband, she should certainly pass the next winter in the same capital as her friend. She then put a little diamond ring upon the finger of the enchanted Agatha, kissed her on both cheeks, and dismissed her. And so ended the campaign of the Robertses at BadenBaden. "Good gracious! how lucky Bertha is!" exclaimed Mrs. Roberts. "How she does sleep to be sure!" And no wonder she thought her young companion's power of reposing during the fatigue of this long, tedious journey, both enviable and extraordinary, for never did chance bring to the ear of Bertha the well-known name of some spot, consecrated by history, poetry, or art, without her closing her eyes with resolute firmness, and mentally exclaiming, "Oh! a thousand times rather would I never see it at all than see it with them!" In this manner they crawled onwards towards Rome, and when at length they passed through the Porta del Popolo, they had at least one feeling that was common to them all, which, though it had but little of classic enthusiasm in it, was at least perfectly unaffected and sincere. It would be difficult to say which of the six persons who occupied the carriage within and without, was the most delighted at feeling that they were about to quit it. This feeling of The sort of journey, as to enjoyment, enjoyment would doubtless have been less which was now began, continued and end- unmixed in the fair bosoms of the two Miss ed, à la veterino, by our travellers, may Robertses, had they known that almost at very easily be imagined, and for this reason the very moment when they were congratuit shall not be described. The great object lating themselves upon being in Rome, the that the master spirits of the expedition Lord Lynberry and Mr. Montgomery were had before them, was the reaching the im- in the act of settling themselves very comperial city as speedily as possible. It is fortably in private lodgings in Florence. vastly probable that they were not the first The phrase used by Lord Lynberry respecttravellers to whose imaginations this same ing the necessity of their " getting on to object acted as a magnet, drawing their Rome," had left no doubt on the minds of bodies after it by a prodigiously powerful the Robertses that they were immediately attraction; but it may be doubted if the going to honor that favored city with their space between the Duchy of Baden and the presence, and as they knew no more than city of the Cæsars was ever before passed the man in the moon where to apply, in orover with such utter indifference to every der to ascertain whether they had arrived thing that lay between, as on the present occasion. As to Bertha, it was a feeling stronger than indifference which caused her to submit not only without a murmur, but VOL. VI.-No I. 8 there or not, they went on hoping and expecting to meet them somehow or somewhere for many and many a tedious day after their arrival. Bertha, indeed, knew where they were as well as they did them-themselves severely for having omitted to selves, having ascertained the way from the ask these interesting particulars, while it hotel to the post-office within a few hours was yet time, but drew consolation from the after her arrival, which enabled her, by obvious fact that nothing could be more profiting by her established license of exit natural than that they should wish to see and entrance, to obtain a long letter from all that was to be seen. her cousin William, informing her of their "In short," said Agatha, "it is idle folly intention of passing a month or six weeks for us to spend our hours in fretting over at Florence. But all and every of the Rob- what is past. Let us all remember to be erts family would have been as likely to more careful for the future. People who consult an umbrella or a walking-stick upon wish to pass successfully through life, must any point on which they wished for infor- never leave themselves ignorant of the mation as Bertha Harrington; and as she movements of friends who are important to was as likely to volunteer intelligence as them. But though it is well to impress they were to ask for it, they profited not this upon our minds for the future, it is usemuch by Mr. Vincent's accurate details re-less to dwell upon it any more now. Let specting the future movements of his party.us rather turn our thoughts to the best manFor above a week Mrs. Roberts and her ner of employing the interval which may two daughters did nothing (after getting in-still elapse before we can renew the pleato private lodgings), nay, they attempted to sant coterie of Baden-Baden: Perhaps you do nothing save walking about the streets have forgotten, ma'am, that we have letters in the hope of meeting their lost friends. of introduction to a Polish lady? She is a But as this did not answer, Agatha, with relative, I believe, or at any rate an intiher usual acuteness of intellect, suggested mate friend of the Princess Fuskymuskoff; the necessity of taking more decisive meas- and if she should turn out to be at all the ures for obtaining the intelligence so im- same kind of superior person, and likewise portant to them. disposed to be civil to us, the having a little "Necessary!-to be sure it is necessary," leisure to cultivate her acquaintance before said her mother, in reply to this very sensi-the arrival of the friends who will be sure ble observation; "but you must please to to absorb us, as heretofore, may be, after all find out, Miss Agatha, the way to set about our regrets, rather advantageous than othit." erwise." "True, ma'am-quite true. We have been to blame in remaining thus long, without taking more effectual measures. I mean to make either my father or Edward go round with me to all the principal hotels. It is a great inconvenience the not being able to speak Italian. But I must make French do. I can bear this suspense no longer. We are wasting our time most deplorably!" "It is very natural that you should think so, Agatha. But very unnatural that I should," said Maria. "However, of course, I don't mean to object to any effort that may lead to our being restored to the society of our fellow-creatures. The life we have led since we came to this shocking dull place is quite too horrid, and, I really do think, that people less high principled and religious than we are, would be found hanging to their bed-posts after such a week as we have endured. The very fact that we have neither of us unpacked a single smart thing since we arrived, speaks plainly enough the sort of condition we have been in." "It does indeed, my dear!" said her mother. "It does indeed speak volumes! You are always the one to give us a helping hand, Agatha, in all difficulties. What The energetic efforts of Agatha were successful. The civility of a waiter at the second hotel they entered for the purpose of making inquiries, set them in the right way of obtaining the information for which they long wished, and before night they had ascertained, beyond the hope of mistake, that no such persons as Lord Lynberry and Mr. Montgomery were in Rome. It was a dreadful blow, but it stunned them only for a few minutes. They happily remembered is it you propose to do, my dear, respecting that the assertion respecting their intention this Polish lady? I forget her name. of coming to the imperial city had been is her name, my dear Agatha?" positive, but no one recollected having "Her name, ma'am, is of little conseheard them say how long they intended to quence," replied Miss Roberts, with a slight be en route, or what places they intended sneer, "for you will never be able to proto visit by the way. They reproachednounce it. She is called Yabiolporakiosky What -the Princess Yabiolporakiosky. Her be thinking about!" said Maria, in an achusband is banished to Siberia, and my cent that seemed to threaten a burst of tears. dear Siandrina told me she was one of the" Do you you really intend, for the sake of most charming women in the world." saving a few pence, to prevent our making "Poor dear lady! I dare say if she is acquaintance with a princess ?—and we, so very amiable as the other princess says, too, in such a condition as we are now! we may all of us grow very fond of her, and Upon my honor, ma'am, it seems as if you the more so of course because of her high had been doing every thing you could think station, and her being so much to be pitied, of on purpose to break our hearts! First which always does touch one's heart com- letting us make the most intimate friending together; but yet, Agatha, I can't but ships with the most enchanting set of peosay that just at present it would have been ple in the world, and then tying up your better for us if she had not been in such a purse and saving sixpence, in order to very melancholy condition: for Heaven make us sit still, twisting our thumbs, withknows, we want something to cheer us just out the comfort of a single soul to speak to now. However, her being a princess must-and that, too, in the very dirtiest, dullest be advantageous. What do you mean to do about beginning the acquaintance, my dear?" "You need not trouble yourself about that, ma'am. The man you have hired may be at my command, I suppose, for an hour or two?" "Certainly, my dear. All day if you want him, except just at dinner time," replied her mother, with a deep sigh. "I confess I never did feel so dull and miserable in my life. Shall you write, or call, or what, my dear?" old town in the world! Oh, dear! oh, dear! how I wish we were at Cheltenham or Brighton !" "I am sure, Maria, I came to Rome wholly and solely to please you," returned her mother. You don't suppose that I care any thing about the curiosities they talk of in this musty fusty old place, do you? And I do think it is too bad turning upon me with reproaches upon its dulness, when we might have lived and died without even being disgusted by the sight of its nasty, dirty, narrow streets, if it had not been for you, and your falling in love with Lord Lynberry." "I wish you would not trouble yourself about it ma'am," replied Agatha. "Depend upon it I will do what is proper, and will "Don't you, Agatha," said Maria, turntell you the result as soon as I know it my-ing towards her sister with a face glowing self. Will you let me have a little money, with indignation," don't you think mamma ma'am, in case I should want a carriage? is the only mother that ever lived who would I have not a farthing." speak of what has happened as my falling in love with Lord Lynberry, and not his falling in love with me?" "Upon my word, Agatha, I would rather a great deal that you should give me a good box on the ear than ask me for money. There seems to be some wicked charm at work against me about money-for the more I get from your father, and the more I try to save, the more distressed I grow. I really never did see any thing like it!" "Just as you please, ma'am," replied her daughter, pushing away from her the pen and ink with which she had been preparing to write. "Just as you please. I don't think the loss of this new acquaintance will be more felt by me than by the rest of you. I know that poor dear Edward expected a good deal from the introduction, and it certainly would be an advantage when our friends come, that they should see we had some decent acquaintance. However, I don't care a straw about it. Only I certainly shall not walk to make a call upon the princess." "Good gracious, mamma, what can you "Mamma is very queer sometimes certainly; but it is no good wasting our time in talking about it. It is much more to the purpose for me to know at once whether she means for us to make the acquaintance of the Princess Yabiolporakiosky or not. Will you please ma'am, to say what is to be done at once, without wasting any more time about it?" "Done? Why you must go to her, Agatha," said the hard-pressed parent, unlocking the work-box in which was deposited all the ready money she had, and taking out a couple of dollars. "There is no help for it now, I see that; but if Maria does not marry Lynberry, and that pretty soon, I begin to suspect that we shall find coming abroad a bad joke." The conversation recorded in the last chapter took place immediately after the |