irits were
low,--you remarked it."

"Yes, indeed, I remember. But when the first shock of Sir Miles's death
was over, she got back her sweet colour, and looked cheerful enough."

"Because, perhaps, then she felt that she had a fortune to bestow on Mr.
Mainwaring, and thought all obstacle was over."

"Why, how clever you are! How did you get at her thoughts?"

"My own folly,--my own rash folly," almost groaned Mr. Fielden. "For
not guessing that Mr. Mainwaring could have got engaged meanwhile to
Lucretia, and suspecting how it was with Susan's poor little heart, I
let out, in a jest--Heaven forgive me!--what William had said; and the
dear child blushed, and kissed me, and--why, a day or two after, when it
was fixed that we should come up to London, Lucretia informed me, with
her freezing politeness, that she was to marry Mainwaring herself as
soon as her first mourning was over."

"Poor, dear, dear Susan!"

"Susan behaved like an angel; and when I broached it to her, I thought
she was calm; and I am sure she prayed with her whole heart that both
might be happy."

"I'm sure she did. What is to be done? I understand it all now. Dear
me, dear me! a sad piece of work indeed." And Mrs. Fielden abstractedly
picked up the scissors.

"It was not till our coming to town, and Mr. Mainwaring's visits to
Lucretia, that her strength gave way."

"A hard sight to bear,--I never could have borne it, my love. If I had
seen you paying court to another, I should have--I don't know what I
should have done! But what an artful wretch this young Mainwaring must
be."

"Not very artful; for you see that he looks even sadder than Susan.
He got entangled somehow, to be sure. Perhaps he had given up Susan in
despair; and Miss Clavering, if haughty, is no doubt a very superior
young lady; and, I dare say, it is only now in seeing them both
together, and comparing the two, that he feels what a treasure he has
lost. Well, what do you advise, Mary? Mainwaring, no doubt, is bound in
honour to Miss Clavering; but she will be sure to discover, sooner or
later, the state of his feelings, and then I tremble for both. I'm sure
she will never be happy, while he will be wretched; and Susan--I dare
not think upon Susan; she has a cough that goes to my heart."

"So she has; that cough--you don't know the money I spend on
black-currant jelly! What's my advice? Why, I'd speak to Miss Clavering
at once, if I dared. I'm sure love will never break her h