ut Laura, to whom those words were anything
but painful--though she blushed a little too, which but confirmed
the opinion of those who remarked it--could not restrain altogether
the smile of pleasure that played upon her lips, as she turned her
happy eyes for a moment to the countenance of the man she loved.
There was not an old lady or gentleman, of high rank, in the room,
possessed of a marriageable son, who would not at that moment have
willingly raised Wilton to the final elevation of Haman, by the same
process which that envious person underwent; and yet it is wonderful
how courteous and cordial, and even affectionate, they all were
towards the young gentleman whom, for the time, they mortally hated.
Wilton felt himself awkwardly situated for the next few minutes, not
choosing fully to assume the position in which the Duke's words had
placed him. He well knew that if he did enact to the full the part of
that nobleman's representative, every one would charge him with gross
and shameful presumption, and would most likely talk of it, each in
his separate circle, during the whole of the following day.
He was soon relieved, however, by the return of the Duke, who had
sent the letter, but who continued evidently anxious and thoughtful
during the whole of dinner. Wilton was also a little disturbed, and
showed himself rather silent and retiring than otherwise. But before
dinner was over--for such meals were long protracted in those
days--one of the servants brought a note to the Duke, who, begging
pardon for so far violating all proprieties, opened, read it, and,
while the cloud vanished from his countenance, placed it on the
salver again, saying to the servant, "Take that to Mr. Brown."
The note was in the hand of Lord Byerdale, and to the following
effect:--
"MY DEAR LORD DUKE,
"Your grace's attachment to the government is far too
well known to be affected by anything that such a person as
Peter Cook could say. I permitted our dear young friend
Wilton to tell you what the man had mentioned, more as a
mark of our full confidence than anything else. But I doubt
not that he will forbear to repeat the calumny in court; and
if he does, it will receive no attention. Go out of town, then,
whenever you think fit, and to whatsoever place you please,
feeling quite sure that in Wilton you have a strenuous
advocate, and a sincere friend in
"Your grace's most humble and