suspicion; and then glance inquisitively at the coach, as if to ascertain whether it was occupied.

Such is the dignified reserve of Lady Annandale, that I dared not venture a question to her, though impatiently longing to know,why, if I was not forbidden to dine at her house, she had gone to her father's.

I left off writing to you last night, my dear Mordaunt, that I might tell you the result of my visit to Annandale House. I am more mystified than ever, and know not what to imagine.

On calling at the usual hour to-day, I found Lady Annandale and Miss Montressor in the boudoir; the former pale and sad, and the latter walking up and down the room, with the air of one who had been giving advice.

Why did you not dine here yesterday?"

asked Miss Montressor, with an authoritative

tone; "Lord Annandale expected you, and was offended at having a Banquo chair in our gay party. You were wrong, not in preferring the society of Lady Annandale,―cela va sans dire,- but in affichant that preference, by appearing at the theatre with her. Your presence together led to several ill-natured comments and malicious interpretations by the whole party, which not all my tact and zeal could avert; and I displayed no want of either, I assure you. Such imprudence is very injurious to Lady Annandale's reputation; and, if you value it, you must be much more guarded.”

"Good heavens, Caroline! what do youwhat can you mean?" asked Lady Annandale, blushing to her very temples, and then becoming as pale as death.

"I mean that you, my dear friend," replied Miss Montressor, "are young and inexperienced, and, consequently, unaware of the danger

to which your reputation is exposed by Lord Nottingham's imprudence."

"I am aware of no imprudence," rejoined Lady Annandale, proudly; " and my reputation depends on myself alone."

I now endeavoured to explain to Miss Montressor, how my dining at Lord Vernon's, when I expected to dine at Annandale House, occurred; but she provokingly answered, "that, altogether, it was a very unfortunate mistake, and had done much mischief."

"I will, however," she added, "

go and write two lines to the Comtesse Hohenlinden,

to explain the circumstance, and prevent her, if not yet too late, from retailing her version of the affair to all the town."

She then hurried from the apartment before I had time to say a word, retreating by a private door that leads to her room.

She had not been gone ten minutes, when

the other door of the room was attempted to be opened, but in vain. We, for a few moments, passively heard the efforts, concluding that each would succeed; till, finding that they did not, I went to ascertain the cause-when, to my perfect astonishment, I discovered that the door was fastened on the inside.

This atrocious act could only have been perpetrated intentionally, and by Miss Montressor; for no one except her had approached that door since I had entered it: and a conviction of the most execrable treachery instantly flashed across my mind.

When I opened the door, the groom of the chambers and one of the footmen were there; and the expression of their countenances fully explained the vile suspicions this insidious deed had induced them to entertain.

Lady Annandale's appearance, too, was, most unfortunately, more likely to confirm

than check their impressions; for she was greatly agitated, and in an almost fainting state.

The groom of the chambers presented her with a billet, and then withdrew, and she confirmed my worst suspicions of treachery, by stating that it was from Miss Montressor.

There is some dark plot hatching against the honour and peace of Lady Annandale, I am now convinced; and I am, probably, intended to be made the instrument of it. Why else was the door fastened inside ere Miss Montressor withdrew ? and why write a note instead of coming back in person, if she had aught to say?

This manœuvre must have been practised to furnish the servants with an opportunity of discovering that the door was locked. Yes, there must be some vile scheme in contemplation; but what can be the motive? Bad as my opinion of Miss Montressor has ever been, and capable