discovered. Dutton sprang after
her, and Bluebell, in much vexation and alarm, returned to the house.

Not much breathing time was to be obtained in the nursery, whither she
had hurried. The door was half open, and, entering unperceived, she
beheld a sight that gave her almost as genuine a start as Kate's
inopportune appearance. Yet it was only Lord Bromley sitting by the
table, looking pale and shaken, and gazing intently on--could she believe
her eyes?--the miniature of Theodore Leigh. The case was broken.
Bluebell had been gumming it, and had left it on the table to dry. But
why should he be studying it with such absorbing interest?

Lord Bromley raised his eyes, and fixed them sternly on the beautiful
girl. "Come here _Theodora_."--and she started. "Whose portrait is this?"

"My father's."

"Exactly. And, such being the case, your presence in this house requires
some little explanation."

Unable to see the connexion between the miniature and this attack;
Bluebell remained silent and confounded; but, as he continued to gaze
severely at her, she roused herself to reply.

"I came here because Mrs. Barrington brought me, and I went to her by the
purest accident. Did you _know_ my father, my Lord?"

"Simplicity may be rather overdone! Do you think, child, I have not
seen through your evident desire to ingratiate yourself?--and scheming
yourself into this house will, I assure you, not further your designs!"

Bluebell could not deny the former charge, though guiltless of the latter
insinuation. But who could have betrayed their marriage, and why did he
only blame her?

"I do not know who may have prompted you, but if he thought duplicity and
cunning a recommendation in a grand-child--"

"Grandchild!" echoed Bluebell. "What can you mean, Lord Bromley! Sir
Timothy Leigh was _my_ grandfather!"

"Which, as you probably very well know, I have not been called for
fifteen years!"

Still the intense perplexity of her face was staggering his impression
that this adventurous daughter of his disinherited son was trying by a
_coup de main_ to cancel the edict of banishment, and to obtain favour
and fortune at his hands.

"_You_ my grandfather!" she reiterated, mechanically, her eyes, wonder
wide, staring at the old man with child-like directness, that produced a
more convincing effect on his mind than any words. After all, it was
quite possible she might not have heard of his succession to a remote
peerage, and this a