the practice of self-introspection, his greatest delight was to escape from the invitations of his comrades, many of whom kept open houses for the purpose of dissipating ennui by gambling, dice and cards being their chief recreation besides attending the festival nights given by the most wealthy of the European settlers holding civil appointments in the country; those, also, held at the residence of their Colonel, formed for them a convenient lounge.
Fond of indulging in that eclât attendant upon the reception of company, the entertainments of Mrs. Melbourne were nothing inferior to any that then took place in Calcutta, and in which her protégée, Miss Airey, shone as the centre star of attraction amongst the officers, who vied in their homage to her; she never appeared in public but with a train of military, consisting chiefly of those who in their attentions seemed desirous but of amusement; more serious aspirants were therefore restrained from approaching her.
Without other advantages in life beyond the short-lived attractions of youth, dependant upon the bounty of Mrs. Melbourne, who, though a generous protectress, allowed her a too great latitude in the indulgence of pleasure, her situation was peculiarly interesting, and at the same
