flowers, beautiful faces, graceful forms, and occasionally charming
conversation."

"Yes; and that never lingers," said Lady Corisande, "for see, I am
wanted."

When they were again undisturbed, Lothair regretted the absence of
Bertram, who was kept at the House.

"It is a great disappointment," said Lady Corisande; "but he will yet
arrive, though late. I should be most unhappy, though, if he were
absent from his post on such an occasion. I am sure if he were here, I
could not dance."

"You are a most ardent politician," said Lothair.

"Oh! I do not care in the least about common politics -- parties, and
office, and all that; I neither regard nor understand them," replied
Lady Corisande. "But when wicked men try to destroy the country, then I
like my family to be in the front."

As the destruction of the country meditated this night by wicked men was
some change in the status of the Church of England, which Monsignore
Catesby in the morning had suggested to Lothair as both just and
expedient and highly conciliatory, Lothair did not pursue the theme, for
he had a greater degree of tact than usually falls to the lot of the
ingenuous.

The bright moments flew on. Suddenly there was a mysterious silence in
the hall, followed by a kind of suppressed stir. Every one seemed: to