CHAPTER VI.

WAYS AND MEANS.


When Lady Delacour repeated to Miss Portman the message about "simplicity
of mind and dignity of character," she frankly said--

"Belinda, notwithstanding all this, observe, I'm determined to retain
Clarence Hervey among the number of my public worshippers during my
life--which you know cannot last long. After I am gone, my dear, he'll be
all your own, and of that I give you joy. Posthumous fame is a silly
thing, but posthumous jealousy detestable."

There was one part of the conversation between Mr. Hervey and her ladyship
which she, in her great discretion, did not immediately repeat to Miss
Portman--that part which related to the horses. In this transaction
Belinda had no farther share than having once, when her ladyship had the
handsome horses brought for her to look at, assented to the opinion that
they were the handsomest horses she ever beheld. Mr. Hervey, however
gallantly he replied to her ladyship, was secretly vexed to find that
Belinda had so little delicacy as to permit her name to be employed in
such a manner. He repented having used the improper expression of _dignity
of mind_, and he relapsed into his former opinion of Mrs. Stanhope's
niece. A relapse is always more dangerous than the first disease. He sent
home the horses to Lady Delacour the next day, and addressed Belinda, when
he met her, with the air of a man of gallantry, who thought that his peace
had been cheaply made. But in proportion as his manners became more
familiar, hers grew more reserved. Lady Delacour rallied her upon _her