words; and he proceeded to make some allusions to the vain boastings of that officer in his monopoly of Miss Airey, giving the public to suppose that some understanding had taken place.
"None whatever; of which I can confidently assure you," rejoined Mrs. Melbourne, whilst her countenance assumed an unusual seriousness. "Believe me, Ellina regards him but as a light, insignificant flatterer. She has been unguarded, I grant you: her total indifference to all those who have gathered around her has made her, imprudently and indiscriminately, appear pleased with the attentions of all successively, and perhaps more so with this last trifler, Captain Sutton, arising from his continued efforts to attract her notice." Re-gret and concern still predominated over the expression of Douglas's countenance; which Mrs. Melbourne perceiving, added, "Ah, Major, you but little know Ellina, who is not what she appears to be. Perhaps I am wrong in saying so, but Ellina is not without her trials, giddy as she may seem, poor thing!"
"So young!" exclaimed Douglas, "and to taste of the cup of sorrow! I should not have thought it, her general appearance indicating a life of sunshine."
"You estimate her but as she is seen in public:
