p for a week."

Julia shut her eyes and sighed greatly. "Fashionable marriages are
advertised with the tag of 'no cards;' you will have to announce mine as
'under chloroform.' Nellie, I never can go through with it," was her
cry.

"Oh, Julia," remonstrated her sister, "don't say that. If you throw over
Mr. Brotherton, half our friends will turn their backs upon us. We have
been wretchedly poor, but we have always been well thought of."

Miss Julia Gardiner's brief joy passed in a thunder-shower of passionate
tears.

It was not intended that the rebuff Mr. Cecil Burleigh had received
from Miss Fairfax should be generally known even by his friends, but it
transpired nevertheless, and was whispered as a secret in various
Norminster circles. Buller heard it, but was incredulous when he saw the
new member in his visual spirits; Mrs. Stokes guessed it, and was
astonished; Lady Angleby wrote about it to Lady Latimer with a petition
for advice, though why Lady Latimer should be regarded as specially
qualified to advise in affairs of the heart was a mystery. She was not
backward, however, in responding to the request: Let Mr. Cecil Burleigh
hold himself in reserve until Miss Julia Gardiner's marriage was an
accomplished fact, and then let him come forward again. Miss Fairfax had
behaved naturally under the circumstances, and Lady Latimer could not
blame her. When the young lady came to Fairfield in the spring,
according to her grandfather's pledge, Mr. Cecil Burleigh should have
the opportunity of meeting her there, but meanwhile he ought not
entirely to give up calling at Abbotsmead. This Mr. Cecil Burleigh could
not do without affronting his generous old friend--to whom Bessie gave
no confidence, none being sought--but he timed his first visit during
her temporary absence, and she heard of it as ordinary news on her
return.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

_A VISIT TO CASTLEMOUNT._

Bessie Fairfax had been but a few days at home after the Brentwood
rejoicings when there came for her an invitation from Mrs. Chiverton to
spend a week at Castlemount. She was perfectly ready to go--more ready
to go than her grandfather was to part with her. She read him the letter
at breakfast; he said he would think about it, and at luncheon he had
not yet made up his mind. Before post-time, however, he supposed he must
let her choose her own associates, and if she chose Mrs. Chiverton for
old acquaintance' sake, he would not refuse his consent