interesting part--a duel; and yet duels are so common now that they are
really vulgar incidents.

"But we think that a duel concerning ourselves must be more extraordinary
than any other. We hear of men being shot in duels about nothing every
day, so it is really a weakness in me to think so much about poor
Lawless's death, as Harriot Freke said to me at the time. She expected to
see me show sorrow in _public_; but very fortunately for me, she roused my
pride, which was always stronger than my reason; and I behaved myself upon
the occasion as became a fine lady. There were some things, however, I
could hardly stand. You must know that Lawless, fool and coxcomb as he
was, had some magnanimity, and showed it--as some people do from whom it
is least expected--on his death-bed. The last words he said were, 'Lady
Delacour is innocent--I charge you, don't prosecute Lord Delacour.' This
he said to his mother, who, to complete my misery, is one of the most
respectable women in England, and was most desperately fond of Lawless,
who was an only son. She never has recovered his loss. Do you remember
asking me who a tall elderly lady in mourning was, that you saw getting
into her carriage one day, at South Audley-street chapel, as we passed by
in our way to the park? That was Lady Lawless: I believe I didn't answer
you at the time. I meet her every now and then--to me a spectre of dismay.
But, as Harriot Freke said, certainly such a man as poor Lawless was a
useless being in society, however he may be regretted by a doting mother.
We should see things in a philosophical light, if we can. I should not
have suffered half as much as I did if he had been a man of a stronger
understanding; but he was a poor, vain, weak creature, that I actually
drew on and duped with my own coquetry, whilst all the time I was
endeavouring only to plague Lord Delacour. I was punished enough by the
airs his lordship doubly gave himself, upon the strength of his valour and
his judgment--they roused me completely; and I blamed him with all my