I
can see,' said Lord Clonbrony.

'My lord, the Buxton baths are no way to blame; but I know what is
to blame, and who is to blame,' said Lady Clonbrony, in a tone of
displeasure, fixing her eyes upon her son. 'Yes, you may well look
confounded, Colambre; but it is too late now--you should have known your
own mind in time. I see you have heard it, then--but I am sure I don't
know how; for it was only decided the day I left Buxton. The news could
hardly travel faster than I did. Pray, how did you hear it?'

'Hear what, ma'am?' said Lord Colambre.

'Why, that Miss Broadhurst is going to be married.'

'Oh, is that all, ma'am!' said our hero, much relieved.

'All! Now, Lord Colambre, you REELLY are too much for my patience. But
I flatter myself you will feel, when I tell you, that it is your friend,
Sir Arthur Berryl, as I always prophesied, who has carried off the prize
from you.'

'But for the fear of displeasing my dear mother, I should say, that I do
feel sincere pleasure in this marriage--I always wished it: my friend,
Sir Arthur, from the first moment, trusted me with the secret of his
attachment; he knew that he had my warm good wishes for his success;
he knew that I thought most highly of the young lady; but that I never
thought of her as a wife for myself.'

'And why did not you? that is the very thing I complain of,' said Lady
Clonbrony. 'But it is all over now. You may set your heart at ease, for
they are to be married on Thursday; and poor Mrs. Broadhurst is ready
to break her heart, for she was set upon a coronet for her daughter; and
you, ungrateful as you are, you don't know how she wished you to be the
happy man. But only conceive, after all that had passed, Miss Broadhurst
had the assurance to expect I would let my niece be her bridesmaid. Oh,
I flatly refused; that is, I told Grace it could not be; and, that
there might be no affront to Mrs. Broadhurst, who did not deserve it,
I pretended Grace had never mentioned it; but ordered my carriage,
and left Buxton directly. Grace was hurt, for she is very warm in her
friendships. I am sorry to hurt Grace. But REELLY I could not let her be
bridesmaid;--and that, if you must know, is what vexed her, and made the
tears come in her eyes, I suppose--and I'm sorry for it; but one must
keep up one's dignity a little. After all, Miss Broadhurst was only
a citizen--and REELLY now, a very odd girl; never did anything like
anybody else; settled her marriage at las