shed, and my
eyes swelled with crying. I pushed by Sir Charles, and seizing
on Edward's arm, I whispered to him, "Take me where I can
speak to you--don't judge me--don't condemn me."

He did not say a single word, but gave me his arm, and walked
with me through all the crowded rooms to the one where Mrs.
Middleton was sitting. He almost thrust me into a chair by her
side, and disappeared without one word or look.

After an hour of talking and dancing, both of which it seemed
to me that I accomplished by some mechanical power, I
prevailed on Mrs. Middleton to go home. While we were looking
for our cloaks in the ante-room, Henry joined us again. He was
holding mine, when Edward rapidly approached us, and in a
quiet but imperious manner took it from him, and put it on me
himself; on which Sir Charles Wyndham remarked, "That's right,
Mr. Middleton--you should never allow married men to play the
gallants with young ladies." I don't know if any of us smiled
at that observation. If there was a smile, it must have been a
strange one.

As we were driving home, after a few moments of silence, I
asked Mrs. Middleton if she had been aware that Edward was
arrived in London.

"We expected him in a day or two," she answered; "but I
believe he came up to town to-day, only to return into the
country to-morrow."

"Has he seen my uncle?" I inquired.

"No," she replied; "he breakfasts with us to-morrow."

There was joy in _that_ as far as it went, though what I was
to say to him, and how I was to explain the state of emotion
in which he had found me that evening when alone with Henry,
was more than I could devise, and, as usual, before the moment
arrived, I had come to the conclusion that to say _nothing_
was the safest course to pursue.

When, at eleven o'clock the next day, I came into the
breakfast-room, Edward was just arrived. He shook hands with
me kindly; but his countenance was still more grave than
usual.

As I was pouring out some tea, my hand trembled--Mrs.
Middleton observed it, and said with a smile, "The effects of
dissipation, Ellen. We really must pull up, or we shall have
you regularly _nervous_."

"How did you like your ball last night, Ellen?" asked Mr.
Middleton.

"Not at all," I answered, and felt my cheeks grow crimson.

"Edward," said Mrs. Middleton, "you renewed your acquaintance
with Mrs. Ernsley last night; did you not?"

"Yes, I had not seen her since my return."

As he said these insignif