Mrs. Dorriman, Volume 3 of 3

ce. Every trace of fatigue vanished. She was once again bright, happy, careless, and ful

a lady sitting there, who eyed her smart clothes with a little suspicion till the Duchess ad

st place; and, in the next, to discover that they had been disappointed in the same doctor, liked the same food

he room, though her appearance was a little marred by the pecu

d," said Mr. Powis, when he, in his turn, took her r

l him it was quit

iness, and she was encouraged by the laughing compliments of young Powis, who, himself a noted athlete an

ir Albert more than once remonstra

ith you?" he asked, with some te

swered with a ghastly smile; "but

was suddenly a great commotion, and Mr. Powis was shocked to find his "brick" of a partner fall back

g-room, where they scattered one or two peo

one, the Duchess must not be disturbed a

g round, and then she own

difficulty, and the two left the b

out the catastrophe to Sir Al

to faint?" he said; "she seemed

as I sent her the invitation, I felt bound to

k and makes herself heavy; my arm aches enough now. All the

been with somebody else," and Sir Albe

ving fainted, and Grace herself was quite determined to say as little as poss

as of vexing unintentionally, poor Lady

and I would have had no supper, no dancing, and a very dull evening; and he hunted up a partne

ked to be int

Albert, 'I know too many girls already; do let me off!' and Sir Albert said,

ould like to be introduced to you,'" and G

lways say that. I heard

een attracted by her, forgetting that in a great crowd th

sked her how she was, hoped she was better, and did not ask her to danc

ed it, Miss Rivers. I shall feel quite ner

was fu

iced. They went away when they were

t very forlorn, getting no attention, and retreated, nearly worn out, and having the greatest difficulty in getting their carriage, none of the liveries choosing to face a dri

ng funny in any part of the evening's entertainment, su

persisted in going to th

out; you never meet a soul you know. Why

is so good for me

r you! So g

yourself; and, as for me," said Grace, lightly, "after this I can n

the oddes

o arrange some business, and when that is done I want t

it take?" ask

l. I want to

de

re. Why do you particularly want to know about the time, Lady Lyon

on," and Lady Lyons looked at Grace to see whether th

and looking on from a distance. The disenchantment, however, was complete; she saw that, unless living and moving amongst people and having them as friends, there was no pleasure in going to any place, however brilliant; and she was struck with the higher tone of many of the people she met, who did not live only for pleasure, b

ad. He wanted very much to say something to Grace, but he wa

for the trouble he had taken to prom

, a hard bench and a crowd. Oh, dear! I shall never forget it, never! Then you came, and that

ble to be of use. The D

d she did not know me; perhaps, as I had a very thick vei

haps

, if you don't mind my saying it-I w

at my aunt, for her age, is very good-

eat hurry, "but plain in her dress. She had no jewels on, not even a di

ostess ought to be unadorned.

Lady Lyons, bluntly; "when I used to h

has no smartest gowns

the 'sentiment,' as you call it, though, for my own part,

temper I can wear blue or white with a qui

ers! You do say s

to you if I see you in a re

yons, she is dying to know why one's 'best'

one's guests," Sir Albert said; "the Duchess has such magni

licate nice feeling,

Sir Albert, did you notice my butterfly the other night? No! how stra

ity. "Miss Rivers," he began, hurriedly, "you have so

ave" said Gr

ly. "Will you send me a line now and again? All that dre

said Grace; "it must

een very

line, 'now and again,' am

let her know you are so kind a

I only want

ld care to see me-if I could ever

alone the Antipodes, holds out much prospect of your being

e answered, composedly, "and I may n

she said, m

oured

n to put the sea be

ppiness in connection with you quite out of the question; and if you came forward just now she might put herself into a position from which it might be diffic

ay be so!" he s

s it all went wrong at Lornbay? I

ng said something-put something in a stupid way. It does not bear thinking about. You h

r me promise to do what little I can in the matter

room, and he gave her a grateful pressure. Lady Ly

dy Lyons is quite shocked; you really mus

ind about her jewel, and, taking it to the light, gave it such real attent

little scene recurred to her, a

ossible, and, without losing sight of what she wanted to know, she began talking of Mrs. Dorrima

g at all about the brother, and it was such a surprise when he appeared. No one knew anything about hi

e surprise for

en her husband muddled away all his money! Poor dear woman! Now, can any one say truthfully that she has had a happy lif

feelingly, Lady Lyons. Mr. Sandford, out of affection for his wife (who, as you know, was my aunt), offered us a home, and added to our income at school. But he made the obligation hateful

his is very

rayton (all her instincts being against him) to save me from a life I hated. I urged her to do it; but, Lady Lyons, I was very ill; if I had only been well

ed, and covered her

arm. "For my sake do not excite yourself so much. I am so ver

ttle laugh, "because I am not a girl who makes herself miserable about what cannot be helped, but when I am

d not been so cross to him. But he was trying, my dear-very trying. However, I w

uriously. What had she said that was so funny? She

be glad if your si

ppiness; but marrying again, Lady Lyons, does it not seem a litt

much mistaken, Sir Albert G

y much in love," Grace

ope it will al

ld go on with her investigations a servant

Lady Lyons, who did not care for Mr. Stevens, careful

xclaimed Grace; "I am really going far from this gay and festive

shocked by her appearance. She looked so fragil

up," he said; "you look as if you have

often now, but he had always seen her full of high spirits, bandying words; he thought her more interesting,

race felt softe

I went up there for a few days...." A cu

ch dislike being with some one else," Grace said, w

rs. Do

itating the little pause he had made,

lled him back. "Did you come to see how I was? I do not l

e you

y are tidy and straight; if I look well they arch up into a sort of surprised state, as much as to say 'That girl is a riddle to me, she is actually better, who would have th

ive," he said, trying to laugh, and feeling absolutely heartsick; she seemed

"we none of us know anything of each other, and I

o I judge

us and thoughtless and--I cannot at

say to you, Miss Rivers, that the more I know her the more

m better tha

ather and mother were cousins, and insanity in the fa

shiv

ford. I remember hearing

very bad h

is rudeness and violence ... and he always looks to me a

very narrowly, and she s

the subjec

ver to you, Miss Rivers-wi

on the fifteen thousand pounds from

-the legacy duty is deduct

k near her. She signed a receipt and inclosed the cheque to

ble and subtle resemblance which comes out in tricks of manner more than in feature-would have caused Grace to

st about it. Clear crystal sea-soft shadows on the mountains, sometimes clouds (always clouds I should say!)-sharp crags, fir-trees beautiful with red stem

riment, so many are noisy and not merry. In the midst of this hilarity in walked a tall you

Paul

rised to hear that Mr. Stevens (by the way, let me introduce you. Mr. Stevens, Mr. Lyons; the

een him. He looked at her with so grave an expression that she was

ave be

ugh she tried to answer him lightly, the effo

mother kind. My face spea

looking far from well. But you

ou this imp

sooner. I wanted to see

but when Paul Lyons made this speech it da

service, left the room, with an ove

t man has gone. Have you been seriou

bly tell what yo

have known for a very long time that m

is free,

long known it-if I could but get you to believe it! that Margaret was a sort of dream of my youth. I shall a

h," said Grace, looking at him earnest

anxiously, but his face

ly give me the right of taking care of you. I have succeeded in getting an app

nowing that I would say yes," exclaime

all places will

I do love you, but I have a great dea

ow, and put me

y yes-if I am your wife-I am afraid you will have a very sorry bargain. I am not a very amiable girl, an

e many faults; you do not think I am perfect, d

g a little, "but I do think you should reflect. Just think,

, dear, with all your whims, and all else, and you will get strong a

at the reason I care for you is not that you are the only man who has

ondition,

othes; and I do not want to go to Scotland and confro

find his mother plea

," he said, his satisfaction unbounded at the ev

yes; but Grace

ve this appointment, mother, a

t much; did she tel

w hun

s six or seven

her, of course. I am also glad I

ave made a

say," he