ve some
hope of joining the party myself to-day."

Mr. Prichard bowed his acknowledgments and departed.

And now the old baronet sat down to ponder in his mind the reasons for
so strange an event as a visit in the forenoon from Lady Hester. "What
can it mean? She can't want money," thought he; "'t is but the other
day I sent her a large check. Is she desirous of going back to England
again? Are there any new disagreements at work?" This last thought
reminded him of those of whom he had been so lately hearing, of those
whose narrow fortunes had drawn them nearer to each other, rendering
them more tolerant and more attached, while in his own family, where
affluence prevailed, he saw nothing but dissension.

As he sat pondering over this not too pleasant problem, a tall and
serious-looking footman entered the room, rolling before him an
armchair. Another and not less dignified functionary followed, with
cushions and a foot-warmer, signs which Sir Stafford at once read as
indicative of a long interview; for her Ladyship's preparations were
always adopted with a degree of forethought and care that she very
rarely exhibited in matters of real consequence.

Sir Stafford was contemplating these august demonstrations, when the
solemn voice of an upper servant announced Lady Hester; and, after a
second's pause, she swept into the room in all that gauzy amplitude of
costume that gives to the wearer a seeming necessity of inhabiting the
most spacious apartments of a palace.

"How d'ye do?" said she, languidly, as she sank down into her chair. "I
had not the least notion how far this room was off; if Clements has not
been taking me a tour of the whole house."

Mr. Clements, who was still busily engaged in disposing and arranging
the cushions, blandly assured her Ladyship that they had come by the
most direct way.

"I'm sorry for it," said she, peevishly, "for I shall have the more
fatigue in going back again. There, you 're only making it worse. You
never can learn that I don't want to be propped up like an invalid. That
will do; you may leave the room. Sir Stafford, would you be good enough
to draw that blind a little lower? the sun is directly in my eyes. Dear
me, how yellow you are! or is it the light in this horrid room? Am I so
dreadfully bilious-looking?"

"On the contrary," said he, smiling, "I should pronounce you in the most
perfect enjoyment of health."

"Oh, of course, I have no doubt of that. I only wonder you