, has once or twice addressed
compliments to the lonely artist which can admit of no mistake. I avoid the
household, I seek solitude, I undergo my destiny. I can marry but one, and am
resolved it shall be to a lady of your nation. And, if her fortune is
sufficient, I think Miss would be the person who would be most suitable. I wish
to ascertain what her means are before I lead her to Gretna Grin.«
    Whether Alcide was as irresistible a conqueror as his namesake, or whether
he was simply crazy, is a point which must be left to the reader's judgment. But
the latter, if he has had the benefit of much French acquaintance, has perhaps
met with men amongst them who fancied themselves almost as invincible, and who,
if you credit them, have made equal havoc in the hearts of les Anglaises.
 

                                  Chapter XXV

                        Contains Both Love and Jealousy.

Our readers have already heard Sir Francis Clavering's candid opinion of the
lady who had given him her fortune and restored him to his native country and
home; and it must be owned that the Baronet was not far wrong in his estimate of
his wife, and that Lady Clavering was not the wisest or the best educated of
women. She had had a couple of years' education in Europe, in a suburb of London
which she persisted in calling Ackney to her dying day, whence she had been
summoned to join her father at Calcutta at the age of fifteen. And it was on her
voyage thither, on board the Ramchunder East Indiaman, Captain Bragg, in which
ship she had two years previously made her journey to Europe, that she formed
the acquaintance of her first husband, Mr. Amory, who was third mate of the
vessel in question.
    We are not going to enter into the early part of Lady Clavering's history,
but Captain Bragg, under whose charge Miss Snell went out to her father, who was
one of the captain's consignees, and part owner of the Ramchunder and many other
vessels, found reason to put the rebellious rascal of a mate in irons, until
they reached the Cape, where the Captain left his officer behind; and finally
delivered his ward to her father at Calcutta, after a stormy and perilous
voyage, in which the Ramchunder and the cargo and passengers incurred no small
danger and damage.
    Some months afterwards Amory made his appearance at Calcutta, having worked
his way out before the mast from the Cape - married the rich attorney's daughter
in spite of that old speculator - set up as indigo-planter,
