BY FRANCIS MEREDITH. "The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together." SHAKSPEARE. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. III. LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1860. The right of Translation is reserved. 249.W.276. MARY BERTRAND. CHAPTER I. WHEREIN SOME IMPRESSIONS ARE MADE, AND OTHERS, CONFIRMED. "On with the dance; let joy be unconfined; No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet, WHEN we next look in upon the Hamiltons, it is an evening in the middle of July. They have been settled for a fortnight at Moorheath; and Lady VOL. III. B Hamilton's time, and that of her stepdaughter, has been fully occupied, since their return to England, in visiting engagements of every kind. Sir George has been equally, but very differently, engaged; it is a thrilling time; men watch, with anxious eyes, the daily course of events; it is not three months before the battle of the Alma; and in politics, which occupy much universal attention, Sir George has been completely wrapped up. The excitement of the time seems to have kindled a spark of interest in the mind of Henry Hamilton, who has taken up his abode with his family; it is certain, at least, that he spends part of his mornings in his father's study, writing for him, or making himself of use in any other way. Sir George is delighted with the change, and already begins to talk, in confidence, of accepting a baronage (which, it is thought, his past, and past, and the prospect of future, services may command for the asking) and resigning his seat in the Lower House to his son. Mary and Blanche have, meanwhile, settled themselves, very quietly and comfortably, in the suite of rooms at the side of the mansion, away from the fuss and hum which fills Heath House, now full of visitors. Mary has devoted her time of recreation to renewing her intercourse with her old friends. She has been several times to the Wards; and Helen, after school hours, has also with her for an hour or been to sit two in the cheerful room, looking out over the |