story which she wanted to tell her, had come to
the house; and Florimel, who was not only kind-hearted, but relished the
position she imagined herself to occupy as lady of the place, at once
assented to her proposal to bring the young woman to her there.

Now, Florimel and the earl had had a small quarrel the night before,
after Clementina left the dinner-table, and for the pleasure of keeping
it up Florimel had not appeared at breakfast, and had declined to ride
with his lordship, who had therefore been all the morning on the watch
for an opportunity of reconciling himself. It so happened that from the
end of one of the long narrow passages in which the house abounded, he
caught a glimpse of Clementina's dress vanishing through the
library-door, and took the lady for Florimel on her way to her boudoir.

When Clementina entered with Lizzy carrying her child, Florimel
instantly suspected the truth, both as to who she was and as to the
design of her appearance. Her face flushed, for her heart filled with
anger, chiefly indeed against Malcolm, but against the two women as
well, who, she did not doubt, had lent themselves to his designs,
whatever they might be. She rose, drew herself up, and stood prepared to
act for both Liftore and herself.

Scarcely, however, had the poor girl, trembling at the evident
displeasure the sight of her caused in Florimel, opened her mouth to
answer her haughty inquiry as to her business, when Lord Liftore, daring
an entrance without warning, opened the door behind her, and almost as
he opened it began his apology. At the sound of his voice Lizzy turned
with a cry, and her small remaining modicum of self-possession vanished
at sight of him round whose phantom in her bosom whirred the leaves of
her withered life on the stinging blasts of her shame and sorrow. As
much from inability to stand as in supplication for the coveted favor,
she dropped on her knees before him, incapable of uttering a word, but
holding up her child imploringly. Taken altogether by surprise, and not
knowing what to say or do, the earl stood and stared for a moment; then,
moved by a dull spirit of subterfuge, fell back on the pretence of
knowing nothing about her. "Well, young woman," he said, affecting
cheerfulness, "what do you want with me? I didn't advertise for a baby.
Pretty child though!"

Lizzy turned white as death, and her whole body seemed to give a heave
of agony. Clementina had just taken the child from her