med Alice, who was unable to repress
the anger occasioned by the last paragraph.

"But it is a great benefit, my dear."

"Mr Palliser has every bit as much cause to be gratified for that as
Mr Grey, and perhaps more."

Poor Lady Macleod could not argue the matter in her present state.
She merely sighed, and moved her shrivelled old hand up and down upon
the counterpane. Alice finished the letter without further remarks.
It merely went on to say how happy the writer would be to know
something of her cousin as Mrs Grey, as also to know something of Mr
Grey, and then gave a general invitation to both Mr and Mrs Grey,
asking them to come to Castle Reekie whenever they might be able. The
Marchioness, with whom Lady Midlothian was staying, had expressly
desired her to give this message. Alice, however, could not but
observe that Lady Midlothian's invitation applied only to another
person's house.

"I'm sure she means well," said Alice.

"Indeed she does," said Lady Macleod, "and then you know you'll
probably have children; and think what a thing it will be for them to
know the Midlothian family. You shouldn't rob them of their natural
advantages."

Alice remained a week with her aunt, and went from thence direct to
Westmoreland. Some order as to bridal preparations we must presume
she gave on that single day which she passed in London. Much
advice she had received on this head from Lady Glencora, and no
inconsiderable amount of assistance was to be rendered to her at
Matching during the fortnight she would remain there before her
marriage. Something also, let us hope, she might do at Cheltenham.
Something no doubt she did do. Something also might probably be
achieved among the wilds in Westmoreland, but that something would
necessarily be of a nature not requiring fashionable tradespeople.
While at Cheltenham, she determined that she would not again return
to London before her marriage. This resolve was caused by a very
urgent letter from Mr Grey, and by another, almost equally urgent,
from Lady Glencora. If the marriage did not take place in September
she would not be present at it. The gods of the world,--of Lady
Glencora's world,--had met together and come to a great decision.
Lady Glencora was to be removed in October to Gatherum Castle, and
remain there till the following spring, so that the heir might,
in truth, be born in the purple. "It is such a bore," said Lady
Glencora, "and I know it will be a girl. But t