fortunately this unfair disclosure did not reach her ladyship's
ears, as she was busily engaged putting on her bonnet, and I was yet
unassailed in reputation to her.

"Good bye, then," said Lord Callonby; "we meet at seven;" and in a few
moments the little party were scattered to their several destinations.

"How very hot you have this place, Collins," said Lady Callonby as we
entered the conservatory.

"Only seventy-five, my lady, and the Magnolias require heat."

I here dropped a little behind, as if to examine a plant, and in a
half-whisper said to Lady Jane--

"How came it that you alone, Lady Jane, should forget I had made another
appointment? I thought you wished to make a sketch of Craigmoran Abbey
--did you forget that we were to ride there to-day?"

Before she could reply, Lady Callonby called out--"Oh, here it is, Mr.
Lorrequer. Is this a heath? that is the question."

Here her ladyship pointed to a little scrubby thing, that looked very
like a birch rod. I proceeded to examine it most minutely, while Collins
waited with all the intense anxiety of a man whose character depended on
the sentence.

"Collins will have it a jungermania," said she.

"And Collins is right," said I, not trusting myself with the
pronunciation of the awful word her ladyship uttered.

Collins looked ridiculously happy.

"Now that is so delightful," said Lady Callonby, as she stopped to look
for another puzzle.

"What a wretch it is," said Lady Catherine, covering her face with a
handkerchief.

"What a beautiful little flower," said Lady Jane, lifting up the bell of
a "lobelia splendens."

"You know, of course," said I, "what they call that flower in France
--L'amour tendre."

"Indeed!"

"True, I assure you; may I present you with this sprig of it," cutting
off a small twig, and presenting it at the same instant unseen by the
others.

She hesitated for an instant, and then extending her fair and taper hand
took it. I dared not look at her as she did so, but a proud swelling
triumph at my heart nearly choked me.

"Now Collins," said Lady Callonby, "I cannot find the Alpen tree I
brought home from the Grundenwald."

Collins hurried forward to her ladyship's side.

Lady Catherine was also called to assist in the search.

I was alone with Lady Jane.

"Now or never," thought I; I hesitated--I stammered--my voice faltered.
She saw my agitation; she participated in, and increased it. At last I
summoned up coura