human heart the approach of foreseen anguish � seems hurrying on the moment when the shadow of dread will be followed up by the reality of despair how cruelly hasty that summer of seemed to surely the roses vanished earlier and the on the mountain ash were more impatient to and bring on the autumn when she would be face to face with her misery and witness giving all his gentle tones tender words and soft looks to another before the end of july captain had written word that lady and her daughter were about to fly from the heat and gaiety of bath to the shady quiet of their place at and that be was invited to join the party there letters implied that he was on an excellent footing both the ladies and gave no hint of a rival bo that sir was more than usually bright and cheerful after reading them at length towards the close of august came the announcement that captain was an accepted lover and after much complimentary and correspondence between the two families it was understood that in september lady and her daughter would pay a visit to when would make the acquaintance of her future relatives and au needful arrangements could be discussed captain would remain at till then and accompany the ladies on their in the interval every one at had something td do by way of preparing for the visitors sir was occupied in with his steward and lawyer and in giving orders to every one else especially in on to finish the saloon mr had ther of a lady s horse miss being a great rider lady had unwonted calls to make and invitations to deliver mr turf and gravel and flower beds were always at such a point of neatness and that nothing extraordinary could be done in the garden except a little extraordinary scolding of the and this addition mr did not neglect happily for she too had her task to fill up the long dreary it was to finish a chair cushion which would complete the set of embroidered covers for the drawing room lady year long work and the only bit of in the over this she sat with cold lips and a heart thankful that this miserable sensation the seemed to the tendency to tears which returned with night and solitude she was most frightened when sir approached her the s eye was brighter and his step more elastic than ever and it seemed to him that only the most leaden or souls could be otherwise than brisk and in a world where every thing went so well dear old he had gone through life a little mr s flushed power of his will and now his latest plan was succeeding and would be inherited by a grand nephew whom he might even yet live to see a fine young fellow with at least the down on his chin why not one is still young at sixty sir had always something playful to say to now little monkey you must be in your best voice you re the of the you know and be sure you have a pretty gown and a new ribbon tou must not be dressed in though you are a bird or perhaps it is your turn to be next but don t you learn any naughty proud airs i must have let off easily s for the old helped her to summon up a smile as he her cheek and looked at her kindly but that was the moment at which she felt it most difficult not to burst out crying lady s conversation and presence were less trying for her felt no more than calm satisfaction in this family event and besides she was further by a little jealousy at sir s anticipation of pleasure in seeing lady in his memory as a beauty of sixteen with whom he had exchanged looks before he went on his first travels lady would have died rather than confess it but she couldn t help hoping that he would bo disappointed in lady and rather ashamed of having called her so charming mr watched through these days with mixed feelings her suffering went to his heart but even for her sake he was glad that a love which could never to good should be no longer fed by hopes and how could he help saying to himself perhaps after a while win be tired of about that and then at length the much expected day arrived and the brightest of september was lighting up the yellow lime trees as about five o clock lady s carriage drove under the seated at work in her own room heard the rolling of the wheels followed presently by the opening and shutting of doors and the sound of voices in the remembering that the dinner hour was six and that lady had desired her to be in the drawing room early she started up to dress and was delighted to find herself feeling suddenly brave and strong curiosity to see miss � the thought that was in the house � the wish not to look were feelings that brought some color to her lips and made it easy to attend to her they would ask her to sing this evening and she would sing well miss should not think her utterly insignificant so she put on her gray silk gown and her cherry colored ribbon with as much care as if she had been herself the not forgetting the pair of round pearl ear rings which sir had told lady to give her because s little ears were so pretty quick as she had been she found sir and lady in the drawing room with mr and telling him how handsome miss was but how entirely unlike her apparently resembling her father only said sir as he turned to look at what do you 