y; and something
very like a cloud of disappointment shadowed her face. 'And does he love
you--I mean, does he idolise you as much as you do him?' she added,
fixing her eyes upon me with ill-disguised anxiety for the reply.

'I don't want to be idolised,' I answered; 'but I am well assured that he
loves me more than anybody else in the world--as I do him.'

'Exactly,' said she, with a nod. 'I wish--' she paused.

'What do you wish?' asked I, annoyed at the vindictive expression of her
countenance.

'I wish,' returned, she, with a short laugh, 'that all the attractive
points and desirable qualifications of the two gentlemen were united in
one--that Lord Lowborough had Huntingdon's handsome face and good temper,
and all his wit, and mirth and charm, or else that Huntingdon had
Lowborough's pedigree, and title, and delightful old family seat, and I
had him; and you might have the other and welcome.'

'Thank you, dear Annabella: I am better satisfied with things as they
are, for my own part; and for you, I wish you were as well content with
your intended as I am with mine,' said I; and it was true enough; for,
though vexed at first at her unamiable spirit, her frankness touched me,
and the contrast between our situations was such, that I could well
afford to pity her and wish her well.

Mr. Huntingdon's acquaintances appear to be no better pleased with our
approaching union than mine. This morning's post brought him letters
from several of his friends, during the perusal of which, at the
breakfast-table, he excited the attention of the company by the singular
variety of his grimaces. But he crushed them all into his pocket, with a
private laugh, and said nothing till the meal was concluded. Then, while
the company were hanging over the fire or loitering through the room,
previous to settling to their various morning avocations, he came and
leant over the back of my chair, with his face in contact with my curls,
and commencing with a quiet little kiss, poured forth the following
complaints into my ear:--

'Helen, you witch, do you know that you've entailed upon me the curses of
all my friends? I wrote to them the other day, to tell them of my happy
prospects, and now, instead of a bundle of congratulations, I've got a
pocketful of bitter execrations and reproaches. There's not one kind
wish for me, or one good word for you, among them all. They say there'll
be no more fun now, no more merry days and glorious n