"Do you know," said Lady Rotheles, veiling her triumph under an appearance of affectionate interest, "that we shall soon have a wedding here? I really am quite foolish about it, for I am truly fond of Henrietta. Lord Allerton is most fortunate in having secured her affection."

"Miss Aubrey! impossible!" cried Lady Anne; but she had no time to say more, for Mary had sunk insensible beside the embroidery frame.

"How lucky," said Lady Rotheles, afterwards, to her niece, "that Allerton was not by to witness such a well-arranged piece of sensibility!"