rture
would have upon Matilda, whom, at the bottom of his heart, he certainly
desired to have for a daughter, although he would have rejoiced in her
alliance with any worthy man.

We return now to the young ladies in the dressing-room, each eager to hear
and to speak, yet each oppressed, though very differently, with solicitude.
At length, Ellen, her breast labouring with sighs, and fear lest she should
wound the heart of her friend, thus spoke: "We are going to lose Charles:
he has got an appointment, Matilda."

"And is he pleased with it, Ellen?"

"Oh, yes! he seems quite happy: he is running all over the house, just in
his old way, and the servants are all laughing and crying about him, as if
he were still a school-boy."

"I am heartily glad of it--he has my sincerest good wishes, and I feel
certain of his success."

Ellen looked in the face of Matilda, to see if she did _indeed_ rejoice;
she perceived a tear twinkle in the corner of her young friend's eye, but
it was not the tear of sorrow. Ellen could now read the heart on subjects
of this kind; she felt that she had been completely mistaken in Matilda's
supposed predilection, and she was almost sorry to see her so happy.

"There is a--a--another affair going on at our house," said Ellen, after
a pause.

Matilda felt her heart beat with unusual violence; she could not speak,
but her very soul peeped out of her eyes to say--"What is it?"

"It is not a parting; it--it--is a joining."

"Oh," said Matilda, calling all her fortitude to her aid, "you are going
to have a wedding, eh?"

"I believe it will come to that, indeed, some time."

Matilda turned as pale as death; but her colour rushed suddenly back to her
cheeks, as at this moment the door opened, and Mr. Harewood and Mrs. Hanson
broke on their _tete-a-tete_. The former felt assured that poor Matilda had
heard the destination of Charles, and was suffering under it; but as he
could hardly believe Mrs. Hanson would consent to her marriage with his
youngest son, and as he thought Charles himself had no thoughts of
marriage at this time, he could not allow himself to rejoice in her
predilection. To relieve her, he said--"Well, my dear, you heard how we are
situated, some of us parting for a time, some uniting for ever; I am sure
you rejoice in all that is good, in either of these cases."

Matilda, overpowered, burst into sudden tears.

"My daughter is very nervous this morning," said Mrs. Hanson; "she c