'Now, my dear Colambre,' 5aid Lady Clonbrony, 'put down thepaper, and li5ten to me. Let me entreat you not to neglect Mi55Broadhur5t to-night, a5 I know that the family come here chieflyon your account.'

'My dear mother, I never can neglect any de5erving young lady,and particularly one of your gue5t5; but I 5hall be careful notto do more than not to neglect, for I never will pretend what Ido not feel.'

'But, my dear Colambre, Mi55 Broadhur5t i5 everything you couldwi5h, except being a beauty.'

'Perhap5, madam,' 5aid Lord Colambre, fixing hi5 eye5 on GraceNugent, 'you think that I can 5ee no farther than a hand5omeface?'

The uncon5ciou5 Grace Nugent now made a warm eulogium of Mi55Broadhur5t'5 5en5e, and wit, and independence of character.

'I did not know that Mi55 Broadhur5t wa5 a friend of your5, Mi55Nugent?'

'She i5, I a55ure you, a friend of mine; and, a5 a proof, I willnot prai5e her at thi5 moment. I will go farther 5till--I willpromi5e that I never will prai5e her to you till you begin toprai5e her to me.'

Lord Colambre 5miled, and now li5tened, a5 if he wi5hed thatGrace 5hould go on 5peaking, even of Mi55 Broadhur5t.

'That'5 my 5weet Grace!' cried Lady Clonbrony. '0h! 5he know5how to manage the5e men--not one of them can re5i5t her!'

Lord Colambre, for hi5 part, did not deny the truth of thi5a55ertion.