mistake," and again she desired me to ring the bell.

To her inquiries as to who had given this message, the servant stated, that Miss Montressor had told him to deliver it. At this moment, Annandale entered the room, looking extremely out of humour; and, scarcely vouchsafing more than a nod to me, he angrily commented on "the noise that tiresome boy," "had been making

as he designated his son,

during the last two hours;" the nursery being

over his library.

"You spoil the brat," said he, "by accustoming him to come here, and then ordering him not to be brought."

So saying, he briskly left the room, before his wife could utter a word in explanation.

I knew not whether to remain or go away a suspicion of some treachery on the part of Miss Montressor, in giving the order, having

taken possession of my mind, and I could not

banish it.

Lady Annandale appeared shocked and wounded by the harshness of her husband, and was silent and abstracted.

Miss Montressor returned in an hour, and, when questioned by Lady Annandale, stated that, seeing how low and nervous her friend had been all the morning, she feared the child would too much fatigue her; and had, therefore, ordered that it should not be brought.

This explanation may be true, and she looked perfectly unembarrassed while making it but how came Annandale to know that the order had been given, without knowing, also, from whom it had emanated?

These circumstances seem very suspicious, to use the least offensive term that can be

applied to them: and more appears to be meant than meets the eye.

On leaving Annandale House, I encountered Lord Vernon, who said, "Well, as you are

not to dine at my daughter's to day, perhaps you will dine with me; for I have had a note from her to inform me, that she will dine with us, instead of our coming to her."

I assented to the proposition, though I thought it strange that neither Lord nor Lady Annandale had mentioned any thing on the subject to me; yet such was my desire to meet her who occupies all my thoughts, that I readily availed myself of the invitation.

I presented myself at the usual hour at Lord Vernon's; where, in a few minutes after, arrived Lady Annandale, apologising for her lord's absence by saying, that he had an engagement, and could not come.

I was in the embrasure of the window, looking at a print, while this was uttered, and consequently she did not see me; but when she

did, she positively blushed crimson, and her confusion was so evident, that I feared her father and mother would observe it.

They did not, however; and attributed her increased colour to any but the right cause. She appeared ill at ease, though evidently endeavouring to conceal her embarrassment; and the excessive affection of Lord and Lady Vernon, displayed in a thousand ways, excited her nearly to tears.

This simple and excellent couple are almost patriarchal in their manners; and, unaccustomed to disguise their feelings, cordially expressed all the delight they experienced at having their daughter again at their paternal board.

"I could almost cheat myself into fancying that it was still my darling Gusty," said Lord Vernon, patting her head.

"And am I not so, father?" asked Lady Annandale, faintly smiling.

"Not quite, not quite, my child!” replied he, with a mournful shake of the head; "for you know that you would, whether I liked it or not, give yourself to another. Ah, Gusty! you dont know how difficult we find it to live without you."

It was not in Lady Annandale's eyes alone that tears started at that moment; for her father, mother, and myself, were all alike affected.

"I look upon Lord Nottingham as one of my own family indeed, as a son," resumed the good old man; "for he tried to console me for your loss, my dear child, and succeeded best in the effort, by appearing to regret you nearly as much as we did."

Had you but seen Lady Annandale's face at that moment. In an instant, her eyes met mine, and their expression of sweetness I shall

VOL. II.

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