forever preaching, when you ought to practice; your duty is to hear and
obey, and I require nothing more of you."

So saying, he turned away, leaving the guard to the solitary indulgence
of his thoughts, which the amusements of that evening had disturbed, in
no ordinary degree.

Mad. de la Tour, had condescended to entertain the bride and bridegroom
at her own house; and permitted such of their companions as were
inclined, to join them on the festive occasion. These were sufficient to
form a cheerful group; apart from them, Mad. la Tour was conversing with
De Valette, and a lovely girl, who seemed an object of peculiar interest
to him, when La Tour entered the room with Mr. Stanhope.

"I bring you a friend, to whose services we are much indebted," said La
Tour to his lady; "and I must request your assistance, in endeavoring to
render this dreary place agreeable to him."

"I shall feel inclined to do all in my power, from selfish motives,"
returned the lady, "independently of our personal obligations to Mr.
Stanhope; and, I trust, it is unnecessary to assure him, that we shall
be most happy to retain him as our guest, so long as his inclination
will permit him to remain."

Stanhope returned a polite answer to these civilities; but his thoughts
were abstracted, and his eyes continually turned towards the young lady,
whose blushing face was animated by an arch smile of peculiar meaning.
La Tour observed the slight confusion of both, but, attributing it to
another cause, he said,