get myself, I tell you I will do it in
no clandestine way. I will write to Lord Ballindine, and I will show
my letter to my uncle. The whole house shall read it if they please. I
will tell Lord Ballindine all the truth--and if Lord Cashel turns me
from his house, I shall probably find some friend to receive me, who
may still believe that I have not forgotten myself." And Fanny Wyndham
sailed out of the room.

Lady Selina, when she saw that she was gone, sat down on the sofa and
took her book. She tried to make herself believe that she was going to
read; but it was no use: the tears dimmed her eyes, and she put the
book down.

The same evening the countess sent for Selina into her boudoir, and,
with a fidgety mixture of delight and surprise, told her that she had a
wonderful piece of good news to communicate to her.

"I declare, my dear," she said, "it's the most delightful thing I've
heard for years and years; and it's just exactly what I had planned
myself, only I never told anybody. Dear me; it makes me so happy!"

"What is it, mamma?"

"Your papa has been talking to me since dinner, my love, and he tells
me Adolphus is going to marry Fanny Wyndham."

"Going to marry whom?" said Lady Selina, almost with a shout.

"Fanny, I say: it's the most delightful match in the world: it's just
what ought to be done. I suppose they won't have the wedding before
summer; though May is a very nice month. Let me see; it only wants
three weeks to May."

"Mamma, what are you talking about?--you're dreaming."

"Dreaming, my dear? I'm not dreaming at all: it's a fact. Who'd've
thought of all this happening so soon, out of this party, which gave
us so much trouble! However, I knew your father was right. I said all
along that he was in the right to ask the people."

"Mamma," said Lady Selina, gravely, "listen to me: calmly now, and
attentively. I don't know what papa has told you; but I tell you Fanny
does not dream of marrying Adolphus. He has never asked her, and if he
did she would never accept him. Fanny is more than ever in love with
Lord Ballindine."

The countess opened her eyes wide, and looked up into her daughter's
face, but said nothing.

"Tell me, mamma, as nearly as you can recollect, what it is papa has
said to you, that, if possible, we may prevent mischief and misery.
Papa couldn't have said that Fanny had accepted Adolphus?"

"He didn't say exactly that, my dear; but he said that it was his wish
they should