Selina's meditations were disturbed by a summons to Lady Eltondale's dressing-room, on a subject of no less importance than the choice of mourning: a mixed sentiment of contempt and indignation took possession of her mind, as she saw every feeling, that should have been called forth in that of the recent loss, absorbed in the more momentous reflections suggested by the comparative merits of the bombasins. But when the bevy of milliners left the room, and Lady Eltondale, hiding her face with her handkerchief, gave way to an outrageous burst of grief, Selina condemned herself for her premature judgment. "That is fortitude, which I have cruelly termed insensibility," thought she; and softened by her tears, the first she had ever seen her shed, she kindly took her hand, and addressed her in terms of condolence. But Lady Eltondale interrupting her in a tone, which from contending passions almost approached a scream: "Spare me, spare me," exclaimed she, "I can bear any thing but pity. Good God! is it come to this! am I, the envied, flattered Lady Eltondale, born to be pitied?" Then turning to Selina, with a countenance distorted with rage, and her figure distended into more than common loftiness, "You mistake me, Miss Seymour," she continued; "though that man of sloth, that dormouse, Lord Eltondale, has left me almost pennyless; though all my entreaties, all my reasons, could never rouse him from his indolence, to make him active for or against ministers, either of which would have procured me a pension; yet do not fancy I am yet to be despised. My spirit is independent, be my circumstances what they may, and they may still be bettered."

Selina was thunderstruck at this address. She could scarcely recognise the calm, dignified Lady Eltondale, in the being convulsed with rage, that writhed beneath her steady gaze. In the contortion of uncontrolled passion, the veil had dropped, and the delusion vanished. A silence of a few moments ensued, and both the ladies recovered themselves; Selina to explain the condolences she had meant to offer as kindnesses, and Lady Eltondale to receive them with that degree of gratitude, she timely recollected it was most prudent to profess. And now,

did the Viscountess reassume all her usual calmness, and more than her usual charms. Stretching out one white hand towards Selina, whilst she pressed the other on her forehead, "Forgive me, my love," exclaimed she, "this sudden misfortune has quite overpowered me. But you, Selina, I know will bear with me; you will not forsake me."

Selina gave her every assurance, that duty and compassion, if not affection, could suggest; and Lady Eltondale, with that feverish restlessness of mind, which was no less distinguishable in her, than the calm self-possession of her external deportment, immediately proceeded to arrange the plans for her future life. "We will leave this directly," said she, "as I am anxious to return to Eltondale as soon as possible, after the funeral of my poor dear Lord is over. I want to arrange my papers, and my jewels, and a thousand little trifles that are my own property, and may be useful to me hereafter; and then we can be decided by Lord Eltondale's answer to the letters I have written to him, whether to await his return at Eltondale, or to spend the intervening time at Brighton." "Or suppose, my dear Lady Eltondale, we return to Deane, I shall be so delighted——" "Impossible, my love," interrupted the Viscountess; "in my present weak spirits such a retirement would kill me." But this selfish, unfeeling woman was yet to learn by deprivation the value of those blessings she had hitherto disregarded, and of that kindness she had only despised. Before she could decide at which of the gay watering places it would be most advisable for her to pass the first months of mourning, Lord Eltondale's steward arrived, in the utmost consternation, with the agonizing intelligence, that the Viscount's creditors had seized on all his personal property, to pay some part of the debts her extravagance had so largely contributed to contract. They had possessed themselves both of the house at Eltondale and in Portman Square; and mercilessly stripped them of all they could lay claim to of their splendid furniture, not even sparing her Ladyship's "jewels, and the thousand little trifles," which she had determined to appropriate to herself. Bitterly did she now inveigh against the memory of him, whose inconsiderate compliance with all her unreasonable demands had principally occasioned the distress of which she so unfeelingly complained. At last, having exhausted her passion in invective, she next employed herself in suggesting and debating on a variety of schemes for her immediate residence: and at length being convinced, that a few months of the very retirement at Deane, which she had at first so indignantly rejected, was the most advantageous measure she could now adopt, she endeavoured to make a virtue of necessity, and accepted Selina's proposition in such a manner, as would have convinced a stranger, that her sole reason for doing so was compliance with Selina's wishes.

The delighted girl did not, however, pause to investigate the motives of the Viscountess's assent to her plan. With a little of the vivacity, which once had marked her every impression, did she now anticipate with fond delight her return to those beloved scenes of her happy infancy. Her heart beat high as in swiftest thought she pictured to herself being once more pressed to the maternal bosom of Mrs. Galton, and once more enjoying the calm unembittered pleasures of her earlier years. Overcome by the various emotions these thoughts gave birth to, she retired to her own room, to regain composure, and to write to persuade her dearest aunt to meet her there.

But an unforeseen difficulty arose to their quitting Cheltenham. Lady Eltondale, with her usual inconsiderate extravagance, had run into debt with almost every shopkeeper in the town; and the tradesmen, from the moment her departure was announced, sent in their demands with what she was pleased to call impertinent importunity. Her own resources had been long exhausted; and perhaps of all her mortifications, none was to her so severe as being under the necessity of applying to Selina for pecuniary assistance. But notwithstanding Selina's accession of fortune, when she lost her habits of early economy, she with them lost the power of being generous. The last letter she had received from her banker had informed her, that her account was so much overdrawn, he could no longer accept her frequent drafts: and when she was obliged to refuse Lady Eltondale's request for money, she received a practical lesson on the folly of extravagance, which was more effectual than any precepts could have been. But Lady Eltondale was not to be repulsed by trifling difficulties; her brain, ever fruitful in expedients, suggested the possibility of Selina anticipating her rents, by drawing a bill on her agent in Yorkshire. Impatient of delay, and dreading the demands which her other numerous creditors in London and elsewhere might bring forward against her, she prevailed on Selina to go the next day to Mr. ——'s bank to negotiate the transaction in person, and fixed to leave Cheltenham as soon as possible afterwards.

Accordingly, very early the following morning, she proceeded to obey Lady Eltondale's directions, having desired the steward, who professed to be well versed in such business, to meet her at the bank, in order to explain all that was necessary for her to do: she however needed no introduction, the wealth of the great Yorkshire heiress was too well known to require any confirmation; and on signing a paper which she scarcely looked at, she joyfully received the sum she desired, without stopping to calculate at what price the banker and the steward had agreed she was to purchase the accommodation.

Elated by her success, she sent the money to Lady Eltondale by the steward, while she proceeded to take a farewell ramble amongst her favourite walks, and to indulge in their retirement the pleasing reveries the idea of returning to Deane Hall had excited. Her solitude however was soon interrupted: Sedley, who for the last three days had with restless anxiety hovered round her door, had followed her unseen, and now hastily overtook her. On first seeing him she was half tempted to return, but he, perceiving her intention, half seriously and half carelessly, put her arm within his, and led her forward. At first he paid her the common compliments of condolence; but when, in answer to his inquiries, she told him she and Lady Eltondale were to leave Cheltenham that day, his surprise and disappointment overcame all his resolutions, and with a vehemence of manner and expression, that almost terrified Selina, he declared his passion in the strongest terms. So little had Selina been accustomed to think of him as her lover, that at first she considered his address merely as an effusion of gallantry, and as such returned it with careless badinage. But his renewed protestations convincing her he was in earnest, her trepidation increased, nor would she probably soon have recovered her composure, had she not perceived that he misconstrued her prolonged silence. As soon therefore as he would permit her, she interrupted him, by politely thanking him for his good opinion of her: "But," continued she, "it distresses me even more than it flatters me: I cannot encourage a partiality I feel I do not return." With an agitated countenance, and looks almost of menace, he now inquired who was the favoured mortal she preferred. "It is not that I prefer another," replied she, "but I do not sufficiently prefer you. I think the only way I can repay your kindness is by treating you with perfect frankness. Do not therefore think me harsh when I say, that though I certainly prefer your society more than that of most others, and though I prize your friendship most highly, I by no means feel for you that exclusive partiality, of which I know my heart is capable; and without which, in my opinion, there can be no happiness in married life." "But may not time and assiduity win your affections, dear, dearest Selina; let me still hope." And then, with all the eloquence he was master of, did he implore her to consider him still as her friend; and to permit him in that character to enjoy her society, and at least endeavour to gain her love.

But the delicacy of Selina's mind shrunk from the idea of encouraging an attachment she never meant to return; and scorning the little arts by which so many women gratify their own vanity, at the expense of those feelings which they seem to soothe, she steadily refused to give him any ground for expecting her to change her present sentiments: for within the last few days she had "communed with her own heart," and understood it better than she had ever done before. However her refusal though firm was gentle; and when Sedley parted from her at Lady Eltondale's door, the tempered smile that played on her lip, and the tear that gemm'd her eye, spoke so much of female softness and benevolence, that he departed more enamoured than ever; and, hastening home, shut himself up in his chamber, to indulge in a variety of schemes and reflections, which all concluded by his determining never to relinquish her pursuit, and by a natural consequence persuading himself his case was not yet desperate:

When Selina entered the drawing room, she found Lady Eltondale too much engrossed by her preparations for departure, to notice her protracted absence and agitated appearance. And when a few hours afterwards Selina actually found herself seated in the carriage, which was to convey her to her own home, her thoughts became so entirely occupied by painfully pleasing retrospection connected with it, that for a time all others faded from her mind. Orders had been dispatched for its being prepared for their arrival. And as they travelled but slowly, sufficient time was afforded for their execution. For the last few miles Selina preserved an uninterrupted silence, her whole attention being occupied in endeavouring to recognize every well known object; and as each succeeding tree, and cottage, and spire, met her view, a sentiment of pleasure, amounting almost to agony, oppressed her. At last, when the carriage turned up the long avenue, her feelings could no longer be repressed. She sobbed aloud, and concealed her face in her handkerchief, which she did not remove till she found herself pressed to the palpitating heart of Mrs. Galton, who having received Selina's letter when on a visit in Lancashire, had succeeded in anticipating her arrival by a few hours.