the _satisfaction_ to leave him blushing with anger, and I supported the
character of the comic muse a full hour afterwards, to convince him that
all their combined malice would fail to break my spirit in public: what I
suffer in private is known only to my own heart."

As she finished these words, Lady Delacour rose abruptly, and hummed a new
opera air. Then she retired to her boudoir, saying, with an air of levity,
to Belinda as she left the room,

"Good bye, my dear Belinda; I leave you to ruminate sweet and bitter
thoughts; to think of the last speech and confession of Lady Delacour, or
what will interest you much more, the first speech and confession
of--Clarence Hervey."




CHAPTER V.

BIRTHDAY DRESSES.


Lady Delacour's history, and the manner in which it was related, excited
in Belinda's mind astonishment, pity, admiration, and contempt:
astonishment at her inconsistency, pity for her misfortunes, admiration of
her talents, and contempt for her conduct. To these emotions succeeded the
recollection of the promise which she had made, not to leave her in her
last illness at the mercy of an insolent attendant. This promise Belinda
thought of with terror: she dreaded the sight of sufferings which she knew
must end in death: she dreaded the sight of that affected gaiety and of