CHAPTER III. Ox the following morning Lady Llanberis communicated the contents of a letter to the company assembled at breakfast, which from the excessive satisfaction it appeared to afford, presented her in a new and amiable light to O'Donnel. The letter was from her son, and dated off ****. She had not heard from him for some time, and now received the unexpected, and apparently most welcome intelligence of his immediate return. Although O'Donnel had frequently heard her speak of her son with great affection, yet as his going abroad was entirely against her will, she had always mingled some little bitterness in her ex pressions of maternal fondness. He was now, however, returning sooner by six months than she expected, and, what much added to her joy and satisfaction, he was bringing over with him a Greek servant, an Egyptian fireeater, and an Indian juggler. would not hear any other subject mentioned or discussed but what bore upon the return of this prodigal son, and his imported natural curiosities. She Another event, which occurred on the following day, gave an additional subject of occupation and interest to her Ladyship. Lord Edward Savill, brother to the late, and uncle to the present Duke of Belmont, was seized with a dangerous illness, and an express had been dispatched for Lord Charles, whom he had made his heir. The two noble brothers, therefore, left Longlands together for Northumberland, where Lord Edward then was at his own seat: and Lady Llanberis, always pleased by a new and unexpected event, inasmuch as it created a new sensation, appeared deeply interested in the cause of their departure. She entreated their return as soon as circumstances would permit; and declared no sort of amusement should go on during their absence, except it happened that her son and his people should arrive in the interim, which was very improbable. Her Ladyship, therefore, now endeavored to establish quiet reading parties, and rational conversations;' and invited Mrs. St. Leger to Longlands, who had hitherto been quite forgotten. She would have no small games played less intellectual than proverbs- qui veut veudre le Corbillon; and bout rhimês.' She cried down Blind-man's Buff, and Petit Paquet,' as boisterous and tiresome; and placed Lady Mary Savili and her friend Mr. Ovid Mussen, as perpetual dictators over the rational 6 pleasures of Longlands. The intellect. of the whole society was now put into requisition, and Raisoner fut l'emploi de toute la maison. Lady Llanberis was delighted with the new system of things, but could not help expressing her amazement, that two such clever persons as Colonel O'Donnel and the Duchess of Belmont were less expert at "small plays" of wit and sentiment than even Mr. Wharton, who was always a very useless person in a house; or poor Sir Gilbert, who, though a man of good fashion, was proverbially dull. Lady Mary and her protegée, however, supplied all deficiencies; and prodigal of their talent, made un grand depense de l'esprit. Although the Christmas party at Longlands was every day contracting its circle, and its amusements became less varied, still O'Donnel found the place more tolerable, and suffered ano ther week to pass over his head without even observing its flight: for though the prevailing tone of society was neither more animated, nor more interesting, yet he felt towards it more toleration and indulgence; or rather he sought beyond its pale an enjoyment above its power to bestow, or its intelligence to appreciate. A sort of conversational intercourse had established itself between the Duchess and himself, which, though free from fami liarity, had still a general coincidence and mutual understanding, which approached to intimacy, and which rendered the mornings short, and the evenings delicious: for she frequently lingered to a late hour in the breakfastroom; and at night O'Donnel had always some excuse in the unfinished subject of the day's discussion, to approach and address her. Her acuteness, her animation, her power of generalizing, and rising beyond the nar |