Fallen Fortunes

n shines in the sky; but let him beware and look to his laurels, for there are stars abroad of such dazzling lustre that Phoebus must have a care lest the brightness

hat your dolts of tradesmen were dunning you to distraction, and others that you had fought a duel and had need to fly; but, pardieu! if one believed all the gossip of the town, one would have enough to do. I know there has been a d

ivial pleasure; she flirted her fan, cast languishing glances, and played off upon the young E

ly just bending her head in response to his bow. He had not addressed her as yet, and he appeared engrossed by the mother; but he

dark thoughts take to themselves wings in this company, and will not be caught or caged. I forget that we are not in the bowers of Arc

at this moment to be entertained by the account of the duel, which had made a little stir in the tow

you will get on without your Fidus Achates. By my troth, you do not look as though you had

thought for. But I must not keep your coach standing in this blaze of sunshine. Whither are you bound, fair ladies? To some Arcadian bowers of Paphos, I doubt

per at our favourite India house, and then to the play-Wynstanly's water theatre. He has a new piece-monstrous fine, those who have seen it vow. They have nymphs, and mermaids, and tritons, and I know not what beside; and they as

you spoke just now?" asked Lord San

esent him to us. I hope he is a pretty fellow, and can turn a merry quip and tell a story.

dford stepped back, and the coach rolled upon its way. Lady Romaine waved her scented kerchief, a

d think you to be a changeling child, if you did not so favour the Adairs. How think you you will ever get wed, sitting gaping there like a farm-house wench, who is afraid to open h

ying at madmen together. Her tongue had never learned the trick of such talk. It perplexed and disgusted her, seeming trivial and childish when it was not improper or profane. She saw other young girls who listened eagerly, and as eagerly reproduced the flowery nonsen

as she lay dying she often warned me to make very careful choice ere I gave my hand in troth-plight. She said I must needs be certain

o can give you all that is what you want; and what can you ask better than the addresses of Lord Sandford? I tell you there are half the girls in town would give their ears for his smiles. He has been extravagant, 'tis true; but the estate can stand a heavy drain, and he is lucky at cards. He soon finds himself on his legs again. When he marries he will open his great h

mself about to gain her ear, she had found that he could drop his mask of gay affectations, and be both shrewd and entertaining. Some of his criticisms had even interested and aroused her; but she was very far from being captivated. She did not know whether it would be possible to give to such a man either love or reverence, and without either one

rd table, half stunned by the clatter and clamour of voices, watching with grave, pained eyes the eager faces of the players, their excited gestures as they reached for their winni

meeting in sharp collision. There were scented dandies, who regarded this "ladies' play" as the merest bagatelle, and lost or won their gold piece

ladies. The gentlemen preferred stronger potations, and congregated together, laughing and jesting. But not infrequently they would be joined by some giddy young matron, who called

m through an open door. She knew some of the faces, and that they were politicians and men of letters; and she thought the

r father's house. "They had a great trouble after the victory of Blenheim to find a poet able to hymn the triumph in periods sufficiently fine; but I think it was Lord Halifax who discovered Mr. Addison, wh

ned to her mother's side, taken from house to house, ever seeing and hearing the like vapourings, the like fripperies and follies. It was the same thing at the dinner or supper, where her mother had a whole train of young bloods in her wake. She gave them the b

etched metaphors of those who addressed her. More often she shrank from their glances and their open compliments, feeling degraded by both, but powerless to repel them. She was thankful when at last she found herself by her mother's si

days. The fashionable listeners did not turn their backs upon the players and talk at the top of their voices all the while the play was in progress, as in some houses, and Geraldine was quite wrapped in contemplation

uty from the foam of the sea; and yet the audience has but to turn its ey

is well-turned legs were encased in scarlet stockings, and his shoes were of the same flaming hue. His height and breadth of shoulder always made him a notable figure; and the immense wig he wore, which to-night was cunningly powdered so a

too much of Venus and Cupid, Pallas and Hymen, since I made my appearance in London routs. I am but a simple country maid, and desi

dine, a deeper truth than perchance you know. I, for one, will not offend again. I

st attraction towards her had been the rumour of her fortune, for he was more deeply in debt than he wished the world to know; but something in the remoteness and isolation in which she seemed to wrap herself piqued and intereste

rest in London. Geraldine's eyes meantime travelled round the box. She saw her mother engrossed in gay talk with a small circle of admirers; but one of the

her mother, seemed to her far more graceful and distinguished. His stockings, breeches, and vest were all of white, with a little silver frosting. His coat was of pale blue, with silver buttons; and his lace cravat, though small and unostentatious, was rich in quality, and fastened by a beautiful pearl. He carried neither muff nor snuff-box, cane nor toothpick. He did not simper nor ogle, nor look as though he desired to attract the eyes of the house upon himself. But he was, notwithstanding, a rather no

eraldine's glance, looked at this motionles

wly-made friend and comrade, Sir Grey Dumaresq, who, I

achful, and he suddenly laid his hand upon his

if you will believe it, O friend, who loves not the sugared and honeyed phrase of adulation, but seeks in all things truth, virtue, an

he poesy of those who have lived before, and left their treasures for us who come

his seat to Grey, whose sensitive f

frippery, false adulation and falser scorn. I am well-nigh stunned by the clam

l softly: and he flashed at her a quick

d fashion is like a fiery wheel going round in my head. Ofttimes I could cry aloud for mercy, the pain and bewilderment are so great. I know there must be noble men and good in this

ied both. I will study them again. I would fain learn all that life has to teach, whether for weal or woe. N

s a man who knew Milton and Clarendon, Hobbes, Herbert, Lovelace and Suckling, Lord Herbert of Cherbury and Izaak Walton. He had read eagerly, like herself, poetry and prose, drama and epic, lyric and sonnet. He could speak of Poetry as one who had loved and courted her as a mistress. The girl long

f; and Lady Romaine, who chanced to catch sight of Geraldine during a shifting of the admirers who surrounded her,

er," was her unspoken thought; and aloud she said, tapping Lord Sandford with her fan, "Pray tell my daughter that I am about to depart

aine's chocolate tables in her favourite private parlour, she noted that Geraldine had dis