Year: 1875

Lazy Gascolgne could not conceal
from herself that there was an alter
alton certainly, but felt sure no man
in the world could possibly be prefer
red to her brother; SO she laughed at
his dependency, and told him he was
far too faint-hearted, and must pluck
up heart of grace if he meant to sue
ceed. On his return shortly before
dinner, he reported that he did not
know whether his visit had been sat-
isfactory or not. "Violet's manner is
so odd," he said, sometimes, could
almost swear that she likes me, and
the next minute she is as cold as pos
sible. At any rate, I am determined
to know the worst tomorrow, for
can't stand the suspense any longer;
especially with that fellow Harring-
ton always about the house."


Accordingly, he presented himself
at Lord Wilmington's at an early hour
next morning, and told his errand
with a beating heart.


my dear fellow" said Lord W.,
looking surprised and moved, and
grasping both hands of his friend,
"this is most unfortunate and unex-
pected. Some little reports have
reached me Of your having very diff
ferent ideas in your head,-al non
sense, of course, and ridiculous gossip.
confess I have often wished and
hoped that you might one day be my
son-in-law.; but it grieves me to tell
you have been authorized by my
daughter this morning to accept Sir
Edward Harrington. I need scarce
ly say I would have preferred you to
any man living; but of course it was
a matter for Violet herself to decide"
Very little more passed between
them and, on his return to Hirst, he
ordered his things to be packed, and
told his sister he should start for the
Continent that afternoon.


81 can't stay here, Fanny, I can't
indeed" he said II must have some
knocking about to help me to get over
this, though I don't expect that I ever
shall. There is not another girl in
the world like her. Write to me at
the Grand Hotel, and forward my
letters there for the next few days. I
shall tell you my plans when l know
them"


He went off Immediately, leaving
poor Lady Gascoigne utterly taken
aback by the unexpected event of the
morning, And grief for her brother
was mixed with certain feeling of
anger at Violet for the misery she
had caused him.


Having passed the day in an utter
| " unstrung and unsettled state, the
next morning she felt an ire
pressible desire to 60 over to
Hiltonbury, and accordingly went
Immediately after breakfast. She
found Lady Wilmington just STEP
ping into the carriage to come to her.


The girls werein the drawing-room


she said and Sir Edward Harring'
ton had gone off the day before direct
ly after receiving his favorable reply,
having some appointments with his
constituents, which would detain him
for ten days in his own part of the
world. So they went into the bou'
doir together, where they had long
private confabulation, and the full
enormity of Miss Ponsonby's mis-
chiefmaking powers became known
to both of them in the course of it.


They went up stairs afterwards te


the drawing-room, where the two girls


and Miss Ponsonby were sitting.


"Good morning, Fanny" said tha


lady; you've come over with con


gratulations, I suppose And pray


when are we to congratulate you OF


this wonderful match you have ar


ranged for Frederick? I an


sure you deserved to succeed
for you have been most perseverinl
in your endeavors to bring it about
and the family owes you many thank
, for the brilliant alliance"


"Aunt Jane," said Lady Gascoign
with great sternness, II find that 20,
> have been making the most unwar
| rantable, unheard-of statements abou
Frederick, which have perfectly as
founded me, even from you, as yo'
know what bitter experience we hav
all had of your love of, I must cal


it, misunderstanding before this. I d
? not believe you really thought Fred
e erick was capable Of marrying a gi,


like Miss Wright, which makes you
+ saying so all the more wicked. Mis-
f Wright is going to be married to d.
e Smith, our village doctor here, an
I Frederick has been extremely kin
| in promising the doctor an appoin
y ment to admit Of the marriage takin
!. place. You have surprised an
e shocked me, Aunt Jane, beyond a
f measure"


y Miss Ponsonby was for once exti1
s guished by the wrath Of her nice
r and only made some inaudible mu
o terings Of selfdefence. Lady Gasc'
,. igneshortly afterwards returned home
k and the next day Lady Wilmingto
e went to her looking harassed and d
s pressed. "1t is just as I thought
y said she; "Violet came to me as SOC
t. as you had left, in great Distress
It the poor girl is in a dreadful state
II mind,-but how to set things right
l. cannot tell. Her father declar