and paid her those marks of consideration and respect, both in public and private life, which she so greatly deserved.  A large family had been the fruits of this union, all of whom, except her two youngest daughters and two of her sons, were married, and to the satisfaction of their parents.  There was a degree of reserve, amounting to severity, in the character of the Duchess, which prevented that same affectionate confidence between her and her children as subsisted in Mr. Hamilton’s family.  Yet she had been a kind and careful mother, and her children ever proved, that surrounded as she constantly was by the fashionable and the gay, she had presided over the education of her daughters, and been more than usually particular in the choice of governesses.  Violent as she might be considered in her prejudices for and against, yet there was that in her manner which alike prevented the petty feelings of dislike and envy, and equally debarred her from being regarded with any of that warm affection, for which no one imagined how frequently she had pined.  She stood alone, respected, by many revered, and she was now content with this, though her youth had longed for somewhat more.  Her chosen friend, spite of the difference of rank, had been Mr. Hamilton’s mother, and she had watched with the jealousy of true friendship the object of Arthur Hamilton’s love.

A brief yet penetrating survey of Emmeline Manvers’ character she took, and was satisfied.  The devotion of Mrs. Hamilton, for so many years, to her children she had ever admired, and frequently defended her with warmth when any one ventured before her to condemn her conduct.  Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton regarded her with reverence and affection, and were gratified at that kindness which insisted that the entree of Caroline should take place at her house.

The Earl and Countess Elmore were also pre-eminent among the guests—­young, noble, exquisitely lovely, the latter at once riveted all eyes, yet by the graceful dignity of her manner, repelled all advances of familiarity.  She might have been conscious of her charms, she could not fail to be, but she only valued them as having attracted towards her the man she loved.  She only used them to endear him to his home; and it was when alone with the Earl, that the sweet playfulness of her character was displayed to its full extent, and scarcely could he then believe her the same being who in society charmed as much by her dignity and elegance, as by her surpassing beauty.  The family of the Marquis of Malvern were also present; they had been long known to Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton, who were glad to resume an intimacy which had been checked by their retirement, but which had ever been remembered with mutual pleasure.  The Earl of St. Eval, eldest son of the Marquis, might have been thought by many, who only knew him casually, as undeserving of the high renown he enjoyed; and many young ladies would have wondered at Emmeline Hamilton’s undisguised