A beautiful boudoir was resigned to Selina by the Viscountess for her morning room, as it by no means was a part of her Ladyship's plan, that Selina should be à porté to the train of idle visitors that formed her usual levee. She knew the world well enough to be aware, that even beauty might grow familiar, and "pall on the eye;" and the more Miss Seymour was found difficult of access, the more would her society be sought. Therefore in acceding to Selina's entreaty to be allowed to pass her morning, as usual, in employment, while apparently only yielding to her wishes, she in truth pursued her own. Selina, with gratitude and delight, took possession of her little Paradise, for so she deemed it; into it she speedily removed her books, her drawing materials, and her magnificent new harp, which had been one of her first purchases, and there did she devote many hours to practising the lessons she daily received; particularly attending to the improvement of her naturally fine voice, which she could already accompany tolerably well on her new instrument; and often did she find her toil amply recompensed by a silent reflection of "how delighted Augustus and aunt Mary would be to hear me now!"
Nearly a fortnight had elapsed since their arrival in town, and Lady Eltondale became tired of remaining so long in private; for though she had, in truth, been out every evening, she had not yet gone to any large assembly, not wishing to appear in public without Selina, and choosing that her début should take place at her own house. She therefore sent out her cards for "a small party, with music;" and in the selection she made of her intended guests, took care that nearly all the leaders of ton, of both sexes, should be invited, whose fiat could at once impress the stamp of fashion on her protégée, for of their award she felt well assured, as her own silence on her beauty indicated. In the mean time she was most assiduous in preparing Selina for the exhibition. An easy but beautiful duet was practised and repractised with Mademoiselle Omphalie, who declared her full approbation of her quick adaptation of her style. Another was "got up," in which Selina was to accompany Madame —— on the piano forte, with just as many full chords on the harp as would show her beautiful figure to advantage, and impress the company with an idea of her manifold accomplishments; and a popular air, with brilliant variations, was selected for her performance on the piano forte, which was, in truth, the only part of the scene in which poor Selina felt the least assurance of success. At last the evening arrived, and Selina attended her aunt to the drawing room in a tumult of contending feelings: she stood on the threshold of pleasure—hope danced in her eyes, whilst the blush of timidity flushed her cheek. The magnificence of the apartments, the splendor of the lights, the perfume of the flowers, at once dazzled and delighted her. All the rooms were opened, and all shone in one blaze of borrowed day except the favourite boudoir: it too was open, and in it still sweeter flowers charmed the sense. But its simple, though beautiful, decorations, were more obscured than shown by the pale light of lamps, which shed almost a moonlight around, as they darted their tempered rays through vases of transparent alabaster. It seemed like the retreat of luxurious elegance receding from the world's glare; and Selina herself appeared like the goddess of this blest abode. Her dress had been entirely superintended by the Viscountess, as Selina neither understood nor valued the arts of the toilet; but her well versed aunt, knowing that the reputation of Selina's immense fortune was already sufficiently extended, had determined to consider nothing in this her first appearance, but how best to heighten her natural loveliness. The style of her dress was of the chastest simplicity. Her luxuriant hair, "when unadorned adorned the most," shone in no borrowed ornament, but every tress was arranged by the nicest hand of art, "then best exercised when least displayed." No jewels shed round her their meretricious glare; her gown of pure white seemed as spotless as the robe of innocence—but its beauty was not the effect of chance: no fold was unimpressed with the finest touch experienced taste could bestow; and, as Lady Eltondale turned her eyes on the beautiful girl, thus moulded, to all the external perfection she could have desired, she smiled at the anticipation of the triumphs that awaited her.
The frequent knocks, and rapidly repeated succession of names, announced to Selina that the Ides of March were come. Lady Eltondale took her station in the most conspicuous part of the rooms, for the purpose of receiving her guests; and never was the fascinating elegance of her manners more conspicuously displayed than on such occasions. At first she kept Selina leaning on her arm, for the purpose of showing her blushing charms to all, and of actually introducing her to a favored few. But the rooms rapidly filling, and the music being commenced, Lady Eltondale left Miss Seymour under the peculiar protection of the old Dutchess of Saltoun, whose countenance showed how truly she was delighted with her young acquaintance. But Lady Eltondale, in withdrawing from Selina, did not cease to observe all her motions. Nor was she a little gratified at the universal murmur of applause her appearance excited, thus bursting into view in all the heightened effect of unexpected beauty. All the fashionable beaux in the room crowded round the new star, expressing, in all the variety of tones and gestures, their admiration of her loveliness: at last, their profuse compliments confusing, rather than gratifying Selina, she looked anxiously round for her aunt, and perceived her standing in earnest conversation with two gentlemen, in one of whom, with equal surprise and pleasure, she recognised Augustus, and the other she rightly conjectured to be Lord Osselstone.
CHAPTER IV.
Quando muovo le luci a mirar voi,
La forma che nel cor m'impressa Amore,
Io mi sento agghiacciar dentro e di fuore,
Al primo lampeggiar de' raggi moi.
A le nobil maniere affiso poi,
A le rare virtuti, al gran valore,
Ragionarmi pian piano, odo nel core.[4]
Ariosto.
To account for the unexpected appearance of Lord Osselstone and Mordaunt together at Lady Eltondale's party, it will be necessary briefly to mention, that, soon after Augustus had left Mrs. Galton at Bath, the Earl had arrived there, and accidentally renewed their acquaintance. The frequent opportunity of intercourse, which all such places afford, having produced a degree of unexpected association between her and the Earl, it was not unnatural, that the nephew of the one and the favourite of the other should frequently become the subject of their discourse; and Mrs. Galton delighted in expatiating on the fine character of her dear Augustus, with whom she kept up a constant and confidential correspondence.
There were few characters so much respected by Lord Osselstone as that of Mrs. Galton. Candour and simplicity were the qualities of all others, which, by not calling forth from him the defensive armour of distrust and penetration, left his heart more open to the impressions of real worth. The Earl knew that on common subjects Mrs. Galton could have no interest in appearing to him other than she really was; and on the subject of Augustus in particular, though he sometimes mentally accused her of exaggeration, he was perfectly convinced she was uniformly sincere. She once, in her zealous friendship, communicated to his Lordship a part of Augustus' correspondence with herself; and to this transcript of his mind, which was incontestably written without design of being read by a third person, did Lord Osselstone give more credit than to her partial representation of the original.