t mite of a woman you ever
saw; like a darling old fairy. Won't you love her?"

They drove along now for some distance in silence; but as they mounted
to the uplands, where Houghton stood, Caroline began to take a lively
interest in the scenery, which was both grand and beautiful in that
region. Away toward the horizon, at the upper end of the valley, was
some large building, whose gray walls and oriel windows were just now
burning in the golden fires of a magnificent sunset.

"What place is that?" said Clara, repeating the question her companion
had asked, "Oh, that is Keath Hall, and may some day belong to Lord
Hilton, a friend of ours."

Caroline felt her breath taken away, she had no power to speak, while
Lady Clara sat smiling pleasantly to herself. The poor girl felt like
springing out of the carriage, and fleeing to the uttermost parts of the
earth, rather than be in the neighborhood with a man who had scorned her
so.

"Lord Hilton is not there now," said Clara, with the innocent quietness
of a kitten; "something has taken him to London or Italy, I believe; but
he is very pleasant, and I like him well enough to be sorry about his
going."

Caroline breathed again; but her face was very sorrowful and her heart
heavy, during the rest of the drive.

The size and splendor of that vast building almost terrified the girl,
who had been brought up in that little cedar cottage. She gave no
indication of this in her manner, but walked by the side of her friend
through that spacious hall, with its bronze statues, suits of armor and
bossed shields, as if no meaner roof had ever sheltered her.

"Come," said Clara, as the young traveller took off her tiny hat, and
began to smooth the hair back from her temples. "I am so impatient to
have grandmamma see you. That will do--that will do. Come, now."

The two girls went out together, Clara leading the way, and directly
stood in the dim light of Lady Carset's chamber.

"Grandmamma, I have brought my friend to pay her respects," said Clara;
"only to pay her respects, for, of course, she is famished; but I felt
how glad you would be, and brought her directly up here."

The old countess arose from her chair, and came forward holding out her
hand. She did, indeed, seem like a fairy godmother, with that soft lace
quivering over her snow-white hair, and those great diamonds blazing on
her tiny hands.

"I am glad to see you, Miss--Miss--"

"Miss Brown, grandmamma."

"Oh, i