“You are right,” said Pendennyss; “it is wonderful how little our happiness depends on a temporal condition.  When here, or at Lumley Castle, surrounded by my tenantry, there are, I confess, moments of weakness, in which the loss of my wealth or rank would be missed greatly; but when on service, subjected to great privations, and surrounded by men superior to me in military rank, who say unto me—­go, and I go—­come, and I come—­I find my enjoyments intrinsically the same.”

“That,” said Francis, “may be owing to your Lordship’s tempered feelings, which have taught you to look beyond this world for pleasures and consolation.”

“It has, doubtless, an effect,” said the earl, “but there is no truth of which I am more fully persuaded, than that our happiness here does not depend upon our lot in life, so we are not suffering for necessaries—­even changes bring less real misery than they are supposed to do.”

“Doubtless,” cried Mr. Haughton, “under the circumstances, I would not wish to change even with your lordship—­unless, indeed,” he continued, with a smile and bow to the countess, “it were the temptation of your lovely wife.”

“You are quite polite,” said Emily laughing, “but I have no desire to deprive Mrs. Haughton of a companion she has made out so well with these twenty years past.”

“Thirty, my lady, if you please.”

“And thirty more, I hope,” continued Emily, as a servant announced the several carriages at the door.  The younger part of the company now hastened to their different engagements, and Chatterton handed Harriet; John, Grace; and Pendennyss, Emily, into their respective carriages; the duke and Lady Marian following, but at some little distance from the rest of the party.

As the earl drove from the door, the countess looked up to a window, at which were standing her aunt and Doctor Ives.  She kissed her hand to them, with a face, in which glowed the mingled expression of innocence, love, and joy.

Before leaving the Park, the party passed Sir Edward; with his wife leaning on one arm and Jane on the other, pursuing their daily walk.  The baronet followed the carriages with his eyes, and exchanged looks of the fondest love with his children, as they drove slowly and respectfully by him; and if the glance which followed on Jane, did not speak equal pleasure, it surely denoted its proper proportion of paternal love.

“You have much reason to congratulate yourself on the happy termination of your labors,” said the doctor, with a smile, to the widow; “Emily is placed, so far as human foresight can judge, in the happiest of all stations a female can be in:  she is the pious wife of a pious husband, beloved, and deserving of it.”

“Yes,” said Mrs. Wilson, drawing back from following the phaeton with her eyes, “they are as happy as this world will admit, and, what is better, they are well prepared to meet any reverse of fortune which may occur, as well as to discharge the duties on which they have entered.  I do not think,” continued she, musing, “that Pendennyss can ever doubt the affections of such a woman as Emily.”