nd there, put it down among the engagements for the latter
end of the month. And Natalie's unacknowledged husband placidly looked
on.

So did the merciless irony of circumstances make Launce the innocent
means of exposing his own secret to discovery. Thanks to his success
in laying his hand on the wrong music-book, there would now be a
meeting--two good days before the elopement could take place--between
the lord's daughters and the rector's wife!

The guests of the evening began to appear by twos and threes. The
gentlemen below stairs left the dinner-table, and joined them.

The small drawing-room was pleasantly filled, and no more. Sir Joseph
Graybrooke, taking Turlington's hand, led him eagerly to their host.
The talk in the dining-room had turned on finance. Lord Winwood was not
quite satisfied with some of his foreign investments; and Sir Joseph's
"dear Richard" was the very man to give him a little sound advice. The
three laid their heads together in a corner. Launce (watching them)
slyly pressed Natalie's hand. A renowned "virtuoso" had arrived, and
was thundering on the piano. The attention of the guests generally was
absorbed in the performance. A fairer chance of sending Launce for
the fan could not possibly have offered itself. While the financial
discussion was still proceeding, the married lovers were ensconced
together alone in the boudoir.

Lady Winwood (privately observant of their absence) kept her eye on the
corner, watching Richard Turlington.

He was talking earnestly--with his back toward the company. He neither
moved nor looked round. It came to Lord Winwood's turn to speak.
He preserved the same position, listening. Sir Joseph took up the
conversation next. Then his attention wandered--he knew beforehand what
Sir Joseph would say. His eyes turned anxiously toward the place in
which he had left Natalie. Lord Winwood said a word. His head turned
back again toward the corner. Sir Joseph put an objection. He glanced
once more over his shoulder--this time at the place in which Launce had
been standing. The next moment his host recalled his attention, and made
it impossible for him to continue his scrutiny of the room. At the same
times two among the evening guests, bound for another party, approached
to take leave of the lady of the house. Lady Winwood was obliged to
rise, and attend to them. They had something to say to her before they
left, and they said it at terrible length, standing so as to