.

It was two or three mornings after the departure of Mr. Carlyle that
Mr. Dill appeared before Miss Carlyle, bearing a letter. She was busy
regarding the effect of some new muslin curtains, just put up, and did
not pay attention to him.

"Will you please take the letter, Miss Cornelia? The postman left it in
the office with ours. It is from Mr. Archibald."

"Why, what has he got to write to me about?" retorted Miss Corny. "Does
he say when he is coming home?"

"You had better see, Miss Cornelia. Mine does not."

"CASTLE MARLING, May 1st.

"MY DEAR CORNELIA--I was married this morning to Lady Isabel Vane, and
hasten briefly to acquaint you with the fact. I will write you more
fully to-morrow or the next day, and explain all things.

"Your ever affectionate brother,

"ARCHIBALD CARLYLE."

"It is a hoax," was the first gutteral sound that escaped from Miss
Carlyle's throat when speech came to her.

Mr. Dill only stood like a stone image.

"It is a hoax, I say," raved Miss Carlyle. "What are you standing there
for, like a gander on one leg?" she reiterated, venting her anger upon
the unoffending man. "_Is_ it a hoax or not?"

"I am overdone with amazement, Miss Corny. It is not a hoax; I have had
a letter, too."

"It can't be true--it _can't_ be true. He had no more thought of being
married when he left here, three days ago, than I have."

"How can we tell that, Miss Corny? How are we to know he did not go to
be married? I fancy he did."

"Go to be married!" shrieked Miss Corny, in a passion. "He would not be
such a fool. And to that fine lady-child! No--no."

"He has sent this to be put in the county journals," said Mr. Dill,
holding forth a scrap of paper. "They are married, safe enough."

Miss Carlyle took it and held it before her: her hand was cold as ice,
and shook as if with palsy.

"MARRIED.--On the 1st inst., at Castle Marling, by the chaplain to the
Earl of Mount Severn, Archibald Carlyle, Esquire, of East Lynne, to
the Lady Isabel Mary Vane, only child of William, late Earl of Mount
Severn."

Miss Carlyle tore the paper to atoms and scattered it. Mr. Dill
afterward made copies from memory, and sent them to the journal offices.
But let that pass.

"I will never forgive him," she deliberately uttered, "and I will never
forgive or tolerate her."

CHAPTER XIV.

THE EARL'S ASTONISHMENT.

The announcement of the marriage in the newspapers was the first
intimation of it Lord Mou