How's old Delacour?

" "Delacour's all right," I answered"at least, as far as I know.

One niece still remained unmarried, Belinda Portman, of whom she determined to get rid with all convenient expedition; but finding that, owing to declining health, she could not go out with her as much as she wished, she succeeded in fastening her upon the fashionable Lady Delacour for a winter in London.

I have sent your bracelet to you by Mr. Clarence Hervey, an acquaintance of Lady Delacour, an uncommonly pleasant young man, highly connected, a wit and a gallant, and having a fine independent fortune; so, my dear Belinda, I make it a pointlook well when he is introduced to you, and remember that nobody can look well without taking some pains to please.

" Belinda had been charmed by Lady Delacour, who was the most agreeable, the most fascinating person she had ever beheld; and to be a visitor at her house was a delightful privilege.

Abroad, Lady Delacour appeared all spirit, life, and good humour; at home, listless, fretful, and melancholy, a prey to thoughts, seemingly, of the most painful nature.

"Could we get away?" "Do see if you can find any of my people!" cried Lady Delacour to Clarence Hervey, who had followed them downstairs.

"Lady Delacour, the comic muse!" exclaimed he.

To divert her, he declared he was convinced he was as well able to manage a hoop as any woman in England, except Lady Delacour; accordingly he was dressed by Marriott, and made his entree with very composed assurance and grace, being introduced as the Countess de Pomenars to the purblind dowager, Lady Boucher, who had come to call.

During her absence from the room Clarence entreated Lady Delacour to make his peace with her.

The horses ran away with Lady Delacour, injuring her ankle, and on her being brought home by Clarence, Lord Delacour wished to enter the locked cabinet for arque-busade.

The horses ran away with Lady Delacour, injuring her ankle, and on her being brought home by Clarence, Lord Delacour wished to enter the locked cabinet for arque-busade.

This circumstance was afterwards explained by Dr. X, a mutual friend, and Hervey was so much charmed with Belinda that he would have gone to her at onceonly that he had undertaken the reformation of Lady Delacour.

He also roused Lady Delacour's jealousy into the belief that Belinda meant to marry her husband, the viscount, after her death.

I forgive you, that is all I can do; but we must part, Lady Delacour!" said he, breaking from her with agony expressed in his countenance.

"Weak as you take me to be, Lady Delacour, I am incapable of loving a woman who has disgraced me, disgraced herself, her" His utterance failed.

Grief and horror and pity were painted on Lord Delacour's countenance as he passed hastily out of the room.

"My dearest friend, I have taken your advice; would to heaven I had taken it sooner!" said Lady Delacour.

"I have revealed to Lord Delacour my real situation.

" Lady Delacour awaited the operation with the utmost fortitude; but, to everyone's joy, it was found there was no necessity for it; she had been deceived by a villainous quack, who knew too well how to make a wound hideous and painful, and had continued her delusion for his own advantage.

They had heard reports of Clarence Hervey's speedy marriage with an heiress, Miss Hartley, and found them confirmed by a letter Lady Delacour received from him.

By Jean Delacour & Ernst Mayr, with line drawings by Earl L. Poole & Alexander Seidel.

Jean Delacour & Ernst Mayr (A); 19Sep73; R559140.

By Jean Delacour & Ernst Mayr, with line drawings by Earl L. Poole & Alexander Seidel.

Jean Delacour & Ernst Mayr (A); 19Sep73; R559140.