. I must do what I can for her. Whenever she comes to the
house, see she is admitted."

The old woman did come often, and always had a conference with the lady
of the mansion; but here let us leave them for the present. They may
appear upon the stage again.

CHAPTER VIII.

"MY DEAR SIR PHILIP:

"I have not seen you or dear Lady Hastings for many months; nor your
sweet Emily either, except at a distance, when one day she passed my
carriage on horseback, sweeping along the hill-side like a gleam of
light. My life is a sad, solitary one here; and I wish my friends would
take more compassion upon me and let me see human faces
oftener--especially faces that I love.

"But I know that you are very inexorable in these respects, and,
sufficient to yourself, cannot readily conceive how a lone woman can
pine for the society of other more loving friends than books or nature.
I must, therefore, attack the only accessible point I know about you,
meaning your compassion, which you never refuse to those who really
require it. Now I do require it greatly; for I am at this present
engaged in business of a very painful and intricate nature, which I
cannot clearly understand, and in which I have no one to advise me but a
country attorney, whose integrity as well as ability I much doubt. To
whom can I apply so well as to you, when I need the counsel and
assistance of a friend, equally kind, disinterested, and clear-headed? I
venture to do so, then, in full confidence, and ask you to ride over as
soon as you can, to give me your advice, or rather to decide for me, in
a matter where a considerable amount of property is at stake, and where
decision is required immediately. I trust when you do come you will stay
all night, as the business is, I fear, of so complicated a nature, that
it may occupy more than one day of your valuable time in the affairs of

Your faithful and obliged servant,

CAROLINE HAZLETON."

"Is Mrs. Hazleton's messenger waiting?" asked Sir Philip Hastings, after
having read the letter and mused for a moment.

The servant answered in the affirmative; and his master rejoined, "Tell
him I will not write an answer, as I have some business to attend to;
but I beg he will tell his mistress that I will be with her in three
hours."

Lady Hastings uttered a low-toned exclamation of surprise. She did not
venture to ask any question--indeed she rarely questioned her husband on
any subject; but when any thing