Edward Lorraine.—"He told me that his mind was divided between Miss Dacre and Miss Manvers."
Lady Mandeville.—"His mind divided! Verily that is making two bites of a cherry. What are the rival claims of these rival heiresses?"
Edward Lorraine.—"They are as equally balanced as those in the ancient apologue. I will only be malicious by inference. I believe, were such acts of faith permitted, Lady Lauriston would recommend him to marry both."
Lord Mandeville now interrupted the conversation, by inviting Lorraine to walk round with him and see his improvements—a tax regularly levied on every new-comer by all country gentlemen. From the park to the pigsty, all must be duly appreciated; for, by some process or other, the proprietor amalgamates their merits with his own. The walk, however, this morning, was something more than an inventory of ditches and drains. Mandeville was theoretic in his future views—which is very good, in talk at least; and, besides, there was not too much to see. The estate which came with the title was small; and though he himself would gladly have settled at the Abbey,
