I  must  leave  this  for  England  inevitably,and
as  the  ladies  will  probably  prefer  wintering
in  Italy "

'■Oh,  certainly,"  said^my  uncle,."  the
wedding  must  take  place  at  once."

"I  scarcely  can  ask  you  to  come  to  us  on
the  occasion,  though  I  need  not  say  how
greatly  we  should  all  feel  gratified  if  you
could  do  so,"  said  my  lord.
While  this  cross  lire  went  on  from  both
sides,  I  looked  from  one  to  the  other  of  the
speakers.  My  first  impression  being,  that
having  perceived  and  disliked  my  attention
to  Lady  Jane,  they  adopted'  this  mauvaise
plaisanterie  as  a  kind  of  smart  lesson  for
my  future  guidance.  My  next  impression
was  that  they  were  really  in  earnest,  but


226


CHARLES  LEVER'S    WORKS.
about  the  very  stupidest  pair  of  old  gentle-
men that  eve,'  -'.vmc  hair  powder.
••  \i:d  this  is  all  ?  "  said  I,  drawing  a
long  breath,  and  inwardly  uttering  a  shori
prayer  for  pal  ience.
