I apprehended, made very free and busy with the concerns of his
friend. Sorel Park was a princely domain, and there was an air of
substantial comfort about the dwelling and its appointments, which
spoke volumes of promise as to domestic arrangements in general. I
soon found time to write a description of the place to Miss Marion,
for I knew how interested she was in all that concerned her faithful
Deborah; and I anxiously awaited the tidings she had promised to
convey--of Mr Budge having provided as comfortably for her as he had
for me. I at length received formal notification of the day and hour
the owner of Sorel Park expected to arrive, accompanied by his female
relative. This was rather earlier than I had been led to expect; but
all things being in order for their reception, I felt glad at their
near approach, for I was strangely troubled and nervous to get this
introduction over. I was very anxious, too, about my dear Miss
Marion; for I knew that some weighty reason alone prevented her from
answering my letter, though what that reason could be, it was
impossible for me to conjecture.

The momentous day dawned; the hours glided on; and the twilight hour
deepened. The superior servants and myself stood ready to receive the
travellers, listening to every sound; and startled, nevertheless, when
the rapid approach of carriage-wheels betokened their close proximity.
With something very like disappointment, for which I accused myself of
ingratitude, I beheld Mr Budge, browner than ever, alight from the
chariot, carefully assisting a lady, who seemed in delicate health, as
she was muffled up like a mummy. Mr Budge returned my respectful
salutation most cordially, and said, with a smile, as he bustled
forwards to the saloon, where a cheerful fire blazed brightly on the
hearth--for it was a chill evening: 'I've brought your new mistress
home, you see, Mrs Deborah; but you want to know where your new master
is--eigh? Well, come along, and this young lady will tell you all
about the old fellow.'

I followed them into the apartment; Mr Budge shut the door; the lady
flung aside her veil, and my own dear, sweet Miss Marion clasped me
round the neck, and sobbed hysterically in my arms.

'Tell her, my darling,' said Mr Budge, himself quite husky, and
turning away to wipe off a tear from his ruddy cheek--'tell her, my
darling, you're the _mistress_ of Sorel Park; and when you've made the
good soul understand _that_, tell her we'd