hitherto they had been eminently successful. Her first daughter had come out during the reign of useful employments; and Lady Susan plaited straw, and constructed silk shoes, till Mr. Amundeville, possessor of some thirty thousand a-year, thought he could not form a more prudent choice, and made her mistress of his saving-bank and himself,—and mistress indeed was she of both. A day of dash and daring came next; and Anastasia rode the most spirited hunter, drove her curricle, told amusing stories, drew caricatures, and laughed even louder than she talked. Lord Shafton married her: he was so delicate, he said, or it was said for him, that he needed protection. Sentiment succeeded; and Laura leant over the harp, and sat by moonlight in a window-seat, sighed when her flowers faded, and talked of Byron and Italy. Sir Eustace St. Clair made her an offer, while her dark blue eyes were filled with tears at some exquisite lines he had written in her album.
Lady Adelaide only remained, and an undeniable beauty; her mother did indeed expect this match to crown all the others. Her style was, however, to be wholly different, like that of a French tragedy, classical, cold, and correct,
