uld not command her health, and that was giving
way under perpetual feelings of anxiety and humiliation. Mrs Grey
thought all this had gone quite far enough. She was more fond and proud
of Hester every day, and more impatient that she should be happy, the
more she watched her. She spoke to Margaret about her. Margaret was
prepared for this, having foreseen its probability; and her answers,
while perfectly true and sincere, were so guarded, that Mrs Grey drew
from them the comfortable inference that she alone penetrated the
matter, and understood Hester's state of mind. She came to the
resolution at last of making the young people happy a little sooner than
they could have managed the affair for themselves. She would help them
to an understanding, but it should be with all possible delicacy and
regard to their feelings. Not even Mr Grey should know what she was
about.

Opportunities were not wanting. When are opportunities wanting to
match-makers? If such do not find means of carrying their points, they
can construct them. Few match-makers go to work so innocently and
securely as Mrs Grey; for few can be so certain of the inclinations of
the parties as she believed herself. Her own admiration of Hester was
so exclusive, and the superiority of Hester's beauty so unquestionable,
that it never occurred to her that the attraction which drew Mr Hope to
the house could be any other than this. About the state of Hester's
affections she felt justly confident; and so, in her view, nothing
remained to be done but to save her from further pining by bringing
about an explanation. She was frequently with Mr Hope at his lodgings,
during his recovery, seeing that he took his afternoon rest, and
beguiling a part of his evenings; in short, watching over him as over a
son, and declaring to Hester that he was no less dear to her.

One evening, when she was spending an hour in Mr Hope's parlour, where
Mr Grey had deposited her till nine o'clock, when he was to call for
her, she made the same affectionate declaration to Mr Hope himself,--
that he was as dear to her as if he had been her own son; "and," she
continued, "I shall speak to you with the same freedom as I should use
with Sydney, and may, perhaps, ten years hence."

"Pray do," said Mr Hope. "I shall be glad to hear anything you have to
say. Are you going to find fault with me?"

"Oh dear, no! What fault should I have to find with you? unless,
indeed, it be a faul