Lady Selina's only recipe was endurance and
occupation. And at any rate, she practised what she preached; she was
never idle, and she never complained.

As she saw Fanny's grief, and heard her sobs, she at first thought that
in mercy she should now give up the subject of the conversation; but
then she reflected that such mercy might be the greatest cruelty, and
that the truest kindness would be to prove to Fanny the hopelessness of
her passion.

"But, Fanny," she said, when the other's tears were a little subsided,
"it's no use either saying or thinking impossibilities. What are you to
do? You surely will not willingly continue to indulge a hopeless
passion?"

"Selina, you'll drive me mad, if you go on! Let me have my own way."

"But, Fanny, if your own way's a bad way? Surely you won't refuse
to listen to reason? You must know that what I say is only from my
affection. I want you to look before you; I want you to summon courage
to look forward; and then I'm sure your common sense will tell you that
Lord Ballindine can never be anything to you."

"Look here, Selina," and Fanny rose, and wiped her eyes, and somewhat
composed her ruffled hair, which she shook back from her face and
forehead, as she endeavoured to repress the palpitation which had
followed her tears; "I have looked forward, and I have determined what
I mean to do. It was your father who brought me to this, by forcing
me into a childish quarrel with the man I love. I have implored him,
almost on my knees, to invite Lord Ballindine again to Grey Abbey: he
has refused to do so, at any rate for twelve months--"

"And has he consented to ask him at the end of twelve months?" asked
Selina, much astonished, and, to tell the truth, considerably shocked
at this instance of what she considered her father's weakness.

"He might as well have said twelve years," replied Fanny. "How can I,
how can any one, suppose that he should remain single for my sake for
twelve months, after being repelled without a cause, or without a word
of explanation; without even seeing me;--turned out of the house, and
insulted in every way? No; whatever he might do, I will not wait twelve
months. I'll ask Lord Cashel once again, and then--" Fanny paused for a
moment, to consider in what words she would finish her declaration.

"Well, Fanny," said Selina, waiting with eager expectation for Fanny's
final declaration; for she expected to hear her say that she would
drown herself, or l