She recalled him as he had been in his first youth—­reserved, sensible, thoughtful, but with the fire of ambition burning strongly within, and ever and anon flashing forth vividly, repressed at once as too demonstrative, but filling her with enthusiastic admiration.  She remembered him calmly and manfully meeting the shock of the failure, that would, he knew, fetter and encumber him through life—­ how resolutely he had faced the difficulties, how unselfishly he had put himself out of the question, how uprightly he had dealt by the creditors, how considerately by his father and aunt, how wise and moderate his proceedings had been throughout.  She recollected how she had shared his aspirations, and gloried in his consistent and prudent course, without perceiving what sorrow had since taught her-that ambition was to him what pleasure was to other young men.  What had it not been to her when that ambition began to be gratified! when he had become a leading man in Parliament, and by-and-by held office.

There, a change came over the spirit of her dream; and though she sighed, she could not but smile at the fair picture that rose before her, of a young girl of radiant loveliness, her golden curls drooping over her neck, and her eyes blue as the starry veronica by the hedge side, smiling in the sunshine.  She thought of the glances of proud delight that her cousin had stolen at her, to read in her face, that his Louisa was more than all he had told her.  Little was needed to make her love the sweet, caressing young creature who had thrown her arms round her, and told her that she saw it was all nonsense to tell her she was such a good, grave, dreadful cousin Mary!  Yet there had been some few misgivings!  So short an acquaintance!  Her cousin too busy for more than being bewitched by the lovely face!  The Villiers family, so gay and fashionable!  Might not all have been foreseen?  And yet, of what use would foresight have been?  The gentleman was deeply attached, and the lady’s family courted the match, the distinction he had won, atoning for his encumbered fortune.

Other scenes arose on her memory—­Louisa, a triumphant beauty, living on the homage she received, all brilliance, grace, and enjoyment.  But there was a darkening background which grew more prominent.  Poor Louisa had little wisdom by nature, and her education had been solely directed to enable her to shine in the world, not to render her fit for the companionship of a man of domestic tastes, accustomed to the society of superior women.  There was nothing to fall back upon, nothing to make a home, she was listless and weary whenever gaiety failed her—­and he, disappointed and baffled, too unbending to draw her out, too much occupied to watch over her, yielded to her tastes, and let her pursue her favourite enjoyments unchecked.