voices; I longed to feel unwatched, unnoticed. Then the
conversation I had heard between the two men at Salisbury had
left a disagreeable impression upon my mind, although too
vague to influence my judgment. Then again, why, if Mrs.
Brandon's wish to see me, and her consequent invitation, were
the result of his praises, had he not talked to me of her? Why
had he not said he should meet me at her house? Obliged, alas!
as I was myself by my miserable fate, to practise constant
dissimulation, I still hated it strangely in others, and I
felt aware that I answered Mrs. Brandon ungraciously, and
greeted Henry coldly. As usual, he was perfectly
self-possessed, but soon withdrew, leaving me alone with Mrs.
Brandon.

"Do let us sit down here together, dearest Ellen," said she,
drawing me to a couch as she spoke; "I do so long to be well
acquainted with you, and I feel to know so well all about you,
we shall be great friends soon, I am sure." And she again
squeezed my hands, and looked into my eyes with that pretty
but over-confidential look in hers.

We talked about my uncle and aunt, on which she said, "Was not
dear Mrs. Middleton a little angry with me for seducing you
away from Elmsley? But I fancy she is in the secret; is not
she?"

"She was much pleased at your kindness in wishing to see me,"
I answered; quite puzzled as to what the secret she alluded to
could be.

"And now, dear Ellen," she continued, "you must treat me quite
like a sister, like a friend, not as an old aunt, or I shall
be affronted, and very jealous of Mrs. Middleton. You must
speak to me quite openly."

"You are so very kind," I said, while all the time I thought,
"What on earth are you at?" The idea of her being jealous of
my affection for Mrs. Middleton struck me as perfectly
ridiculous, and the very fact of being requested to speak
openly, effectually inclined me to shut myself up, in an
additional amount of reserve. I tried, however, to be amiable
and warm; and after a little more conversation, Mrs. Brandon
left me, to go and dress for dinner.

A few minutes after the bell had rung, I went down to the
library, and found nearly everybody assembled. I went through
a number of introductions. The women that I made acquaintance
with were Lady Wyndham, Mrs. Ernsley, Miss Moore, and two Miss
Farnleys. The men were standing together in the middle of the
room, but except Mr. Brandon (who immediately came to me and
made a number of civil speeches