ce her out, he would claim
her at once, and force her home by outrage and violence. In this,
however, she was mistaken; he had fallen upon quite a different and far
more successful plan for that purpose. He knew his daughter well,
and felt that if ever she might be forced to depart from those strong
convictions of the unhappiness that must result from a union between
baseness and honor, it must be by an assumption of tenderness and
affection toward her, as well as by a show of submission, and a
concession of his own will to hers. This was calculating at once upon
her affection and generosity. He had formed this plan before her letter
reached him, and on perusing it, he felt still more determined to
make this treacherous experiment upon her very virtues--thus most
unscrupulously causing them to lay the groundwork of her own permanent
misery.

In the meantime, Mrs. Mainwaring, having much confidence in the effect
which a knowledge of her disclosure must, as she calculated, necessarily
produce on the ambitious baronet, resolved to lose no time in seeing
him. On the evening before she went, however, the following brief
conversation took place between her and Lucy:

"My dear Lucy," said she, "a thought has just struck me. Your situation,
excepting always your residence with us, is one of both pain and
difficulty. I am not a woman who has ever been much disposed to rely on
my own judgment in matters of importance."

"But there, my dear Mrs. Mainwaring, you do yourself injustice."

"No, my dear child."

"But what is your thought?" asked Lucy, who felt some unaccountable
apprehension at what her friend was about to say.

"You tell me that neither you nor your aunt, Lady Gourlay, have ever
met."

"Never, indeed," replied Lucy; "nor do I think we should know each other
if we did."

"Then suppose you were, without either favor or ceremony, to call upon
her--to present yourself to her in virtue of your relationship--in
virtue of her high character and admirable principles--in virtue of the
painful position in which you are placed--to claim the benefit of
her experience and wisdom, and ask her to advise you as she would a
daughter."

Lucy's eyes glistened with delight, and, stooping down, she imprinted a
kiss upon the forehead of her considerate and kind friend.

"Thank you, my dear Mrs. Mainwaring," she exclaimed: "a thousand thanks
for that admirable suggestion. Many a time has my heart yearned to know
that extraordi