with the latter that any attempt
at concealment would fatally endanger my future peace, and I
had made the firmest resolution that nothing should ever lead
me again into an unnecessary act of deceit. It was
dressing-time, and still Edward was not come home. I walked
impatiently up and down the room, and at last it grew so late
that I was obliged to ring for my maid and to begin dressing.

While I was doing my hair, Edward rushed into the room in a
great hurry, and said as he held the door open, "Ellen, love,
dress as quick as you can, and go into the drawing-room. Sir
Edmund Ardern and Escourt are arrived." Changing into French,
he added, "I should not have asked Escourt, as I know you do
not like him, if it had not been that when I pressed Ardern to
come, he said before him that they were engaged to dine
together at the club, which obliged me to invite them both."

I was inexpressibly annoyed, especially at having had no
opportunity of informing Edward of my drive with Henry. As
soon as I was dressed I went to his room; but he desired me so
impatiently to go to the drawing-room, that it took away my
courage to tell him all I had intended to say.

Pride enabled me to make a strong effort over myself and to
meet Mr. Escourt without embarrassment; but turning
immediately away from him, I entered into conversation with
Sir Edmund. He took up a newspaper and read it assiduously,
till first Henry, and then Edward came into the room.

We went down to dinner, and nothing passed for some time but
conversation on general subjects. I could not conquer my
uneasiness. Whenever I heard the sound of Mr. Escourt's voice,
or felt his eyes fixed upon me, a kind of shudder ran through
me, and the cold dry manner in which I answered his questions,
though each time I repented of it, still re-occurred the next
minute. I knew that this was bad policy, and that it made
Edward angry; but much as I had deceived in my life, I had
never been able to dissemble; and the effort to do so in this
case was beyond my strength.

After one of those pauses during which everybody wonders who
will speak next, and which had been brought on by some short
answer I had given to a question of Mr. Escourt, he abruptly
turned to me and said, "By the way, Mrs. Middleton, you could
decide a bet we made this morning, Ardern and I. Did you
happen to observe if it was Mrs. Ernsley that we passed a few
minutes after we met you on the King's-road this morning?"