erine; 'but I think if one of the parties were in love with another
person, that would be quite sufficient to ensure a tolerable portion of
wretchedness.'

'I think so too,' said Lord Montfort; 'an union, under such
circumstances, would be ill-assorted. But Miss Grandison is not in that
situation?' he added with a faint smile.

'That is scarcely a fair question,' said Katherine, with gaiety, 'but
there is no doubt Ferdinand Armine is.'

'Indeed!'

'Yes; he is in love, desperately in love; that I have long discovered. I
wonder with whom it can be!'

'I wonder!' said Lord Montfort.

'Do you?' said Miss Grandison. 'Well, I have sometimes thought that you
might have a latent suspicion of that subject, too. I thought you were
his confidant.'

'I!' said Lord Montfort; 'I, of all men in the world?'

'And why not you of all men in the world?' said Miss Grandison.

'Our intimacy is so slight,' said Lord Montfort.

'Hum!' said Miss Grandison. 'And now I think of it, it does appear to me
very strange how we have all become suddenly such intimate friends. The
Armines and your family not previously acquainted: Miss Temple, too,
unknown to my aunt and uncle. And yet we never live now out of each
other's sight. I am sure I am grateful for it; I am sure it is very
agreeable, but still it does appear to me to be very odd. I wonder what
the reason can be?'

'It is that you are so charming, Miss Grandison,' said Lord Montfort.

'A compliment from you!'

'Indeed, no compliment, dearest Miss Grandison,' said Lord Montfort,
drawing near her. 'Favoured as Miss Temple is in so many respects, in
none, in my opinion, is she more fortunate than in the possession of so
admirable a friend.'

'Not even in the possession of so admirable a lover, my lord?'

'All must love Miss Temple who are acquainted with her,' said Lord
Montfort, seriously.

'Indeed, I think so,' said Katherine, in a more subdued voice. 'I love
her; her career fills me with a strange and singular interest. May she
be happy, for happiness she indeed deserves!'

'I have no fonder wish than to secure that happiness, Miss Grandison,'
said Lord Montfort; 'by any means,' he added.

'She is so interesting!' said Katherine. 'When you first knew her she
was very ill?'

'Very.'

'She seems quite recovered.'

'I hope so.'

'Mr. Temple says her spirits are not what they used to be. I wonder what
was the matter with her?'

Lord Montfort was silent.

'I cannot b