were in the library. Before
she had time to welcome them, Ellen, running up stairs, hurried with her
into the dressing-room, and closed the door with an air of secrecy which
showed her expectation of giving or receiving intelligence of importance,
and there was in her countenance an expression which combined both joy and
sorrow, and was really indefinable.

Full of her own cares, and anxious to conceal the most interesting part of
them, Matilda for some time remained silent, nor did Ellen find the courage
requisite for her own communication; so that this much desired visit
promised little eventual satisfaction. To account for the situation of
Ellen, it is necessary to trace the events of the morning in her father's
house.

When the family were assembled to breakfast, the conversation naturally
turned upon the ball of the evening before; and Ellen, with friendly zeal,
sought to exculpate her friend Matilda from the errors which Mr. Belmont
seemed to think her guilty of, in exhibiting herself in a dance, by no
means decorous, with a young man of Sir Theodore's description.--"I do not
say," added he, "that it was a positively wrong thing, nor do I much wonder
at it; for a fine young woman, and an heiress, may be led a great way, by
the flatterers and sycophants who surround her; but I must own I expected
better things from the chosen friend of Ellen Harewood, from a girl
educated by a pious and sensible mother, and one said to possess a sound
understanding."

Edmund was silent, but his varying complexion bespoke the strong interest
he felt in the subject; Charles, on the contrary, warmly entered into it,
declaring that a few words which passed between Matilda and him clearly
proved that she had been misled by her party; that her sense of propriety
was as strong as ever; and, in short, that she was a dear, amiable, good
girl, whom he would defend as long as he lived.

The warmth of Charles's assertion called a smile from every one. During the
time he spoke, his father had been called out; the servant now entered,
desiring _his_ presence also; and it appeared that their early visitant
was a man of great importance, and the cause of his calling at this time,
by awakening curiosity, suspended conversation. In a few minutes he
departed, and Mr. Harewood returned to the breakfast-room, saying as he
entered--"I am going to announce a piece of excellent news, although it is
accompanied by a loss we must submit to; our dear Cha