glow-worms. The principal band was placed in the great hall; which, splendidly lighted up, and hung with blue damask, whose festoons were fastened back with wreaths of flowers, was thrown open for the dancers. But strains of music came from every part of the grounds; and on the river was a boat, filled with wind instruments, whose soft aerial melody floated in at every pause.
The beauty of the evening had little attraction to Lord Marchmont, who was in the card-room, devoting all his energies to the whist-table. Lady Marchmont was wandering about the gardens with Sir George Kingston, and Lord Norbourne had taken charge of Miss Churchill.
Ethel was more than usually depressed; the gaiety around made her shrink into herself; she had no sympathy with it; it only made her think, more and more, how the spring of happiness was dead within her: she had no real enjoyment in any thing. The forced gaiety which society exacts as its false and weary tribute, only fatigued, without exciting
