man quite
detestable."

Endymion turned pale, his lips quivered. What might have been the winged
words they sent forth it is now impossible to record, for at that moment
the door opened, and the servant announced that her ladyship's horse
was at the door. Lady Montfort jumped up quickly, and saying, "Well, I
suppose I shall see you before you go," disappeared.

CHAPTER LXXV

In the meantime, Lady Roehampton was paying her farewell visit to her
former pupil. They were alone, and Adriana was hanging on her neck and
weeping.

"We were so happy," she murmured.

"And are so happy, and will be," said Myra.

"I feel I shall never be happy again," sighed Adriana.

"You deserve to be the happiest of human beings, and you will be."

"Never, never!"

Lady Roehampton could say no more; she pressed her friend to her heart,
and left the room in silence.

When she arrived at her hotel, her brother was leaving the house. His
countenance was disquieted; he did not greet her with that mantling
sunniness of aspect which was natural to him when they met.

"I have made all my farewells," she said; "and how have you been getting
on?" And she invited him to re-enter the hotel.

"I am ready to depart at this moment," he said somewhat fiercely, "and
was only thinking how I could extricate myself from that horrible dinner
to-day at the Count of Ferroll's."

"Well, that is not difficult," said Myra; "you can write a note here if
you like, at once. I think you must have seen quite enough of the Count
of Ferroll and his friends."

Endymion sat down at the table, and announced his intended
non-appearance at the Count's dinner, for it could not be called an
excuse. When he had finished, his sister said--

"Do you know, we were nearly having a travelling companion to-morrow?"

He looked up with a blush, for he fancied she was alluding to some
previous scheme of Lady Montfort. "Indeed!" he said, "and who?"

"Adriana."

"Adriana!" he repeated, somewhat relieved; "would she leave her family?"

"She had a fancy, and I am sure I do not know any companion I could
prefer to her. She is the only person of whom I could truly say, that
every time I see her, I love her more."

"She seemed to like Paris very much," said Endymion a little
embarrassed.

"The first part of her visit," said Lady Roehampton, "she liked it
amazingly. But my arrival and Lady Montfort's, I fear, broke up their
little parties. You were a great deal with th