etermined to exert herself to dispel this
notion. This it was now easy for her to do, because she had, by this
time, in her own imagination, found a plausible excuse for that coldness
in Lord Colambre's reception of her, by which she had at first been
hurt; she had settled it, that he had taken it for granted she was of
his mother's sentiments respecting Miss Broadhurst's marriage, and that
this idea, and perhaps the apprehension of her reproaches, had
caused his embarrassment--she knew that she could easily set this
misunderstanding right. Accordingly, when Lady Clonbrony had talked
herself to sleep about Buxton, and was taking her afternoon's nap, as it
was her custom to do when she had neither cards nor company to keep her
awake, Miss Nugent began to explain her own sentiments, and to give Lord
Colambre, as her aunt had desired, an account of the manner in which
Miss Broadhurst's marriage had been settled.

'In the first place,' said she, 'let me assure you that I rejoice in
this marriage; I think your friend, Sir Arthur Berryl, is every way
deserving of my friend, Miss Broadhurst; and this from me,' said she,
smiling, 'is no slight eulogium. I have marked the rise and progress
of their attachment; and it has been founded on the perception of
such excellent qualities on each side, that I have no fear for its
permanence. Sir Arthur Berryl's honourable conduct in paying his
father's debts, and his generosity to his mother and sisters, whose
fortunes were left entirely dependent upon him, first pleased my friend.
It was like what she would have done herself, and like--in short, it is
what few young men, as she said, of the present day would do. Then his
refraining from all personal expenses, his going without equipage and
without horses, that he might do what he felt to be right, whilst it
exposed him continually to the ridicule of fashionable young men, or
to the charge of avarice, made a very different impression on Miss
Broadhurst's mind; her esteem and admiration were excited by these
proofs of strength of character, and of just and good principles.'

'If you go on, you will make me envious and jealous of my friend,' said
Lord Colambre.

'You jealous!--Oh, it is too late now--besides, you cannot be jealous,
for you never loved.'

'I never loved Miss Broadhurst, I acknowledge.'

'There was the advantage Sir Arthur Berryl had over you--he loved, and
my friend saw it.'

'She was clear-sighted,' said Lord Colambr