while his sister and Kate Sidney had safely arrived at Mrs. Dalrymple's house in Brighton; whither it will be our immediate business to follow them. CHAPTER V. Hertensio." Marry, sir, to get a husband for her sister." Taming of the Shrew. DEEPLY versed as Mrs. Colonel Dalrymple was in the subtle mysteries of match-making, the lapse of only a few days served to convince her that a great blunder had been committed in allowing Alicia Mowbray to be the companion of her less attractive sister, at the very height-at the most likely period, of the Brighton season. Looking at the two girls in the same point of view as that lady regarded every unmarried woman, her apprehensions were certainly not groundless. No person could behold Alicia Mowbray without seeing that her elegant figure-tall, but gracefully moulded her expressive countenance, her winning manners, would prove powerful weapons when employed against the peace of the male sex. But with her companions she was not always a favourite; possessing, as she did, certain faults, which were more apparent to her own than to the other sex. Her early womanhood retained the unconciliating deportment of her girlhood; she was cold and haughty to superiors, capricious and uncertain to equals, while to inferiors was at one time lavish of kindness, at another hasty in temper, but always generous and forgiving. Hence she was adored by the dependents of her father's household; and the praises of Miss Alicia's good heart-" heaven bless her!"-were the theme of all, from the stable-boy to the garrulous old butler: by them she was worshipped. Yet when Alicia did unbend, she never failed to charm it was the knowledge that she could do so when she chose, which sometimes made her appear : less amiable than she really was; but at the head of her father's table, all agreed that there could not be a more hospitable or graceful hostess; it was the place where she exhibited her true character. Yet out of that sphere she had charms to spread ; but they were of an extrinsic, of a more superficial, character. Without possessing any particular talent, Miss Mowbray was au fait in almost everything she danced, played, sung, and drew, in a manner far above the generality of what are termed accom plished girls." But it was during their morning rides with the select few of Mrs. Dalrymple's male friends that Alicia shone most conspicuously. As an equestrian, no lady in her native county could approach her: confident, without being daring, she managed a horse with ease and spirit; and, without aspiring to the masculine honours of a Nimrod, united the graces of womanhood with the nerve and skill so necessary to an equestrian. On these occasions she threw Katherine deeply into the shade. But the accomplished match-maker was too great a proficient in her art not to have previously provided against the contingency of her new guest's superior charms. Katherine's account of her schoolfellow was sufficiently glowing to put Mrs. Dalrymple-even before she had seen Alicia-upon her guard, and to cause her to provide for her sister an acquaintance whom she rightly judged was not to be dazzled-not to, be taken as it were by storm-a gentleman, the only avenue to whose heart was long acquaintanceship, a steady, enduring series of attacks on his affection, and a strict observance to all the rules and regulations of a respectable courtship. Despite Kate's occasional levity, her indefatigable sister did not despair of being able to tutor her, so as to achieve the desired conquest, For this there was plenty of opportunity, as Mr. George Chesster and Colonel Dalrymple were at once bosom friends and inveterate antagonists ;both being irreclaimable chess-players. Night after night they took their station at the bow-window |