"No, no," exclaimed Clarence, laughing, "it is not come to _that_ with me
yet, Lady Delacour, I promise you; but is not it possible to say that a
young lady has dignity of mind and simplicity of character without having
or suggesting any thoughts of marriage?"

"You make a most proper, but not sufficiently emphatic difference between
having or suggesting such thoughts," said Lady Delacour. "A gentleman
sometimes finds it for his interest, his honour, or his pleasure, to
suggest what he would not for the world promise,--I mean perform."

"A scoundrel," cried Clarence Hervey, "not a gentleman, may find it for
his honour, or his interest, or his pleasure, to promise what he would not
perform; but I am not a scoundrel. I never made any promise to man or
woman that I did not keep faithfully. I am not a swindler in love."

"And yet," said Lady Delacour, "you would have no scruple to trifle or
flatter a woman out of her heart."

_"Cela est selon!"_ said Clarence smiling; "a fair exchange, you know, is
no robbery. When a fine woman robs me of my heart, surely Lady Delacour
could not expect that I should make no attempt upon hers."--"Is this part
of my message to Miss Portman?" said Lady Delacour. "As your ladyship
pleases," said Clarence; "I trust entirely to your discretion."

"Why I really have a great deal of discretion," said Lady Delacour; "but
you trust too much to it when you expect that I should execute, both with
propriety and success, the delicate commission of telling a young lady,
who is under my protection, that a young gentleman, who is a professed
admirer of mine, is in love with her, but has no thoughts, and wishes to