ressed it kindly, while a gleam of genuine feeling
flashed from his eyes as he murmured, 'God help us both!'

'Amen!' responded I; and we parted.

I returned to the drawing-room, where, doubtless, my presence would be
expected by most, desired by one or two. In the ante-room was Mr.
Hattersley, railing against Lord Lowborough's poltroonery before a select
audience, viz. Mr. Huntingdon, who was lounging against the table,
exulting in his own treacherous villainy, and laughing his victim to
scorn, and Mr. Grimsby, standing by, quietly rubbing his hands and
chuckling with fiendish satisfaction.

In the drawing-room I found Lady Lowborough, evidently in no very
enviable state of mind, and struggling hard to conceal her discomposure
by an overstrained affectation of unusual cheerfulness and vivacity, very
uncalled-for under the circumstances, for she had herself given the
company to understand that her husband had received unpleasant
intelligence from home, which necessitated his immediate departure, and
that he had suffered it so to bother his mind that it had brought on a
bilious headache, owing to which, and the preparations he judged
necessary to hasten his departure, she believed they would not have the
pleasure of seeing him to-night. However, she asserted, it was only a
business concern, and so she did not intend it should trouble her. She
was just saying this as I entered, and she darted upon me such a glance
of hardihood and defiance as at once astonished and revolted me.

'But I am troubled,' continued she, 'and vexed too, for I think it my
duty to accompany his lordship, and of course I am very sorry to part
with all my kind friends so unexpectedly and so soon.'

'And yet, Annabella,' said Esther, who was sitting beside her, 'I never
saw you in better spirits in my life.'

'Precisely so, my love: because I wish to make the best of your society,
since it appears this is to be the last night I am to enjoy it till
heaven knows when; and I wish to leave a good impression on you
all,'--she glanced round, and seeing her aunt's eye fixed upon her,
rather too scrutinizingly, as she probably thought, she started up and
continued: 'To which end I'll give you a song--shall I, aunt? shall I,
Mrs. Huntingdon? shall I ladies and gentlemen all? Very well. I'll do
my best to amuse you.'

She and Lord Lowborough occupied the apartments next to mine. I know not
how she passed the night, but I lay awake the greater part