decorations—a cross, or a ribbon—for I had
none ; nor give it, because she, being a woman,
couldn't wear it. I couldn't make her one of
the court ladies, for there was no court ; and
yet it was clear something should be done, if
one only knew what it was. " I suppose now,"
said I to myself, "a real R.H. would see his
way here at once ; the right thing to do, the
exact expression to use would occur as
naturally to his mind as all this embarrassment
presents itself to mine. 'Whenever your head
cannot guide you,' says a Spanish proverb, ' ask
your heart ;' and so I did, and my heart spoke
thus : 'Tell her, Potts, who you are, and what ;
say to her, "Listen, young lady, to the words of
truth from one who could tell you far more
glibly, far more freely, and far more willingly, a
whole bushel of lies. It will sit light on his
heart that he deceive the old lady inside, but you
he cannot, will not deceive. Do not deem the
sacrifice a light one ; it cost St. George far less
to go out dragon-hunting than it costs me to
slay this small monster who ever prompts me to
feats of fancy." ' "

"I am very sorry to be troublesome, sir, but
as we change horses here, I will ask you to
assist me to alight; the weather looks very
threatening, and some drops of rain have already
fallen."

These words roused me from my reverie to
action, and I got down, not very dexterously
either, for I slipped, and made the postilion
laugh, and then I helped her, who
accomplished the descent so neatly, so gracefully,
showing the least portion of such an ankle, and
accidentally giving me such a squeeze of the
hand! The next moment she was lost to me,
the clanking steps were drawn up, the harsh
door banged to, and I was alone—all alone in
the world.

Like a sulky eagle, sick of the world, I
climbed up to my eyrie. I no longer wished
for sunshine or scenery; nay, I was glad to see
the postboys put on their overcoats and prepare
for a regular down-pour. I liked to think there
are some worse off than even Potts. In half an
hour they will be drenched to the skin, and I'll
not feel a drop of it!

The little glass slide at my back was now
withdrawn, and Miss Herbert's pale, sweet face
appeared at it. She was saying that Mrs. Keats
urgently entreated I would come inside, that
she was so uneasy at my being exposed to such
a storm.

I refused, and was about to enter into an
account of my ascent of Mont Blanc, when
the slide was closed and my listener lost to
me.

"Is it possible, Potts," said I, " that she has
detected this turn of yours for the imaginative
line, and that she will not encourage it, even
tacitly? Has she said, ' There, is a young man of
genius, gifted marvellously with the richest
qualities, and yet such is the exuberance of his
fancy that he is positively its slave. Not
content to let him walk the earth like other men,
she attaches wings to him, and carries him off
into the upper air. I will endeavour, however
hard the task, to clip his feathers and bring him
back to the common haunts of men' ? Try it,
fair enchantress—try it !"

The rain was now coming down in torrents,
and with such swooping gusts of wind that I
was forced to fasten the leather curtain in front
of me, and sit in utter darkness, denied even the
passing pleasure of seeing the drenched postboys
bobbing up and down on the wet saddles.
I grew moody and sad. Every Blue Devil of my
acquaintance came to pay his visit to me, and
brought a few more of his private friends. I
bethought me that I was hourly travelling away
further and further from my home; that all this
long road must surely be retraced one day or
other, though not in a carriage and post, but
probably in a one-horse cart, with a mounted
gendarme on either side of it, and a string to
my two wrists in their bridle hands. I thought
of that vulgar herd of mankind so ready to weep
over a romance, and yet send the man who acts
one to a penal settlement. I thought how I
should be described as the artful knave, the
accomplished swindler. As if I was the first man
who ever took an exaggerated estimate of his
own merits! Go into the House of Commons,
visit the National Gallery, dine at a bar or a
military mess, frequent, in one word, any of the
haunts of men, and with what "pièces pour
servir à l'histoire" of self-deception will you come
back loaded!

The sliding window at my back was again
drawn aside, and I heard Miss Herbert's voice:

"If I am not giving you too much trouble,
sir, would you kindly see if I have not
dropped a bracelet — a small jet bracelet — in the
coupé."

"I am in the dark here, but I'll do my best
to find it."

"We are very nearly so too," said she; " and
Mrs. Keats is fast asleep, quite unmindful of
the thunder."

With some struggling I managed to get
down on my knees, and was soon engaged in a
very vigorous search. To aid me, I lighted a
lucifer match, and by its flickering glare I saw
right in front of me that beautiful pale face,
enclosed as it were in a frame by the little
window. She blushed at the fixedness of my
gaze, for I utterly forgot myself in my admiration,
and stared as though at a picture. My
match went out and I lit another. Alas! there
she was still, and I could not force myself to
turn away, but gazed on in rapture.

"I am sorry to give you this trouble, sir,"
said she, in some confusion; " pray never mind
it. It will doubtless be found this evening
when we arrive."

Another lucifer, and now I pretended to be
in most eager pursuit; but somehow my eyes
would look up and rest upon her sweet
countenance.

"A diamond bracelet, you said?" muttered I,
not knowing what I was saying.

"No, sir, mere jet, and of no value whatever,
save to myself. I am really distressed at all