But the great event of the season was the presentation of Lady
Corisande. Truly our bright maiden of Brentham woke and found herself
famous. There are families whom everybody praises, and families who are
treated in a different way. Either will do; all the sons and daughters
of the first succeed; all the sons and daughters of the last are
encouraged in perverseness by the prophetic determination of society.
Half a dozen married sisters, who were the delight and ornament of their
circles, in the case of Lady Corisande were good precursors of
popularity; but the world would not be content with that: they credited
her with all their charms and winning qualities, but also with something
grander and supreme; and from the moment her fair cheek was sealed by
the gracious approbation of majesty, all the critics of the court at
once recognized her as the cynosure of the empyrean.

Monsignore Catesby, who looked after Lothair, and was always
breakfasting with him without the necessity of an invitation -- a
fascinating man, and who talked upon all subjects except high mass --
knew every thing that took place at court without being himself. He led
the conversation to the majestic theme, and while he seemed to be busied
in breaking an egg with delicate precision, and hardly listening to the
frank expression of opinions which he carelessly encouraged, obtained a
not insufficient share of Lothair's views and impressions of human
beings and affairs in general during the last few days, which had
witnessed a lev e and a drawing-room.

"Ah! then, you were so fortunate as to know the beauty before her
d but," said the monsignore.

"Intimately; her brother is my friend. I was at Brentham last summer.
Delicious place! and the most agreeable visit I ever made in my life --