learning his s sentiments and wishes in your habits and tastes to his � which ever must exercise so essential an influence over your future happiness i cannot understand it nay that was as much his s province as mine exclaimed tossing her beautiful head though tears in her eyes others eagerly proffered that homage which lord so withheld raised her clear eyes miss ham s brow perhaps you will find ere long that all their flattery has not the value of one simple word of spoken by your replied she seriously are you also suddenly become a of the earl exclaimed in a tone of i tell you i never can love one who so much for himself i might just as well attempt to with vitality one of the glowing flowers on this paper before me as to raise myself to his standard then why marry him it would be far more honorable and better to decline the engagement at oh could i think myself at liberty so to do but i will tell you the history of it cried earnestly and you shall judge at the time old lord died which happened when i had attained my tenth year his title descended to papa as you know but his estates and amongst them this beautiful old place to the late earl of papa and he as i think i have before told you were intimate friends and fellow the earl was immensely and most generously proposed to papa to his right to the estates provided the miserable little of the title was to his only n � who had then just or nearly attained his majority upon this solemn contract and agreement papa has alone for the last ten years held the right over these estates and upon its accomplishment depends his future if any objection arises on the part of lord the estates wholly and entirely to papa in accordance with a deed executed by the late earl and � though i acknowledge his to be noble and generous enough to set me free should i demand it � yet did the of the contract proceed from me i know papa would insist on yielding up every acre of the property and he would be only just � for even then we should be deeply indebted to the earl my poor is there then no escape cried gazing with painful emotion on the flushing cheek of her friend surely lord who loves you so tenderly no nothing could be done dearest unless it were the spontaneous act of lord to set me free think i could i by any deed of mine deliberately exile papa from a home he loves so much and dear mamma likewise who is so proud of this beautiful place could i drive them both forth in their declining years to support a on the paltry of a poor dear do not excite yourself thus i exclaimed throwing her arm around her friend s neck and kissing away the tears on her cheek every one speaks so well of lord that in time you must learn to love him and perhaps even when you see him again you will be amazed at your present prejudice i know you have no serious attachment for i cannot bring myself so to your foolish with colonel me as i feel i ought to be appreciated i contrast the warmth of his devotion short as is the time since we first met with his s cold indifference but surely you would not colonel even were you free to do so i a man who has but his handsome person and a most surpassing facility in uttering light and empty to boast of he loves me � which is more than my husband does exclaimed vehemently however though i cannot insist on my release from this engagement i will be no and lord shall know full well he is dragging a reluctant bride to the altar i at this instant a sharp rap at the door made start to her feet raised her head from the sofa cushion and hastily dried her tears in a few seconds the door opened a pretty looking stood on the threshold between her fingers an artificial branch of splendid scarlet come in i exclaimed miss pardon said advancing into the apartment but mil di command me to come and see flowers be suited to the head of mil di order me to prepare your white silk for this evening and you are to wear this wreath also heavens i what a beautiful i exclaimed the pretty lightly the glowing flowers amid s jet curls ah i will be enchanted this evening with the beauty of his fair bride that will do take the flowers away i will wear anything mamma and you arrange only i cannot be disturbed just now said languidly ah what joy is for you to day where is mamma interrupted impatiently lady is sitting in de writing and i was to give her s kind to you miss and say she hope to see you dis evening at dinner and away was bounding when she suddenly stopped short and returned have you any command for me what shall i say to miss dearest you must positively come this evening whispered as e saw her friend hesitate you may go i will give mamma miss s answer i wonder his would seeing s hair dress in or in murmured to herself surveying s small head well i shall tell her and with a low courtesy the vanished � i will hear denial come you shall this evening but on this first evening of lord s arrival will it not appear rather if i accept your mamma s kind invitation miss laughed nay make one only among many similar we have a dinner party to night though of course our guests were all invited before we heard of lord 