But--" (here my lord heaved a very affecting and large sigh).
"But what ?" says my lady, laffing at the igspression of his dismal face.
"You don't mean that Mr.Deuceace has lost them or is unworthy of them ?" "I trust not, my dear madam, I trust not; but he is wild, thoughtless, extravagant, and embarrassed: and you know a man under these circumstances is not very particular as to his associates." "Embarrassed?
Good heavens! He says he has two thousand a year left him by a god-mother; and he does not seem even to spend his income--a very handsome independence, too, for a bachelor." My lord nodded his head sadly, and said,--"Will your ladyship give me your word of honor to be secret?
My son has but a thousand a year, which I allow him, and is heavily in debt.

He has played, madam, I fear; and for this reason I am so glad to hear that he is in a respectable domestic circle, where he may learn, in the presence of far greater and purer attractions, to forget the dice-box, and the low company which has been his bane." My Lady Griffin looked very grave indeed.

Was it true?
Was Deuceace sincere in his professions of love, or was he only a sharper wooing her for her money?
Could she doubt her informer?
his own father, and, what's more, a real flesh and blood pear of parlyment?
She determined she would try him.

Praps she did not know she had liked Deuceace so much, until she kem to feel how much she should HATE him if she found he'd been playing her false.
The evening was over, and back they came, as wee've seen,--my lord driving home in my lady's carridge, her ladyship and Miss walking up stairs to their own apartmince.
Here, for a wonder, was poar Miss Kicksey quite happy and smiling, and evidently full of a secret,--something mighty pleasant, to judge from her loox.

She did not long keep it.