d graces, to the exclusion
of all less important aspirants. However, I had not understood or even
remarked his attentions, nor in the slightest degree suspected his or
my mother's plans respecting me, when I was made aware of them rather
abruptly by my mother herself.

We had attended a splendid ball, given by Lord M----, at his residence
in Stephen's Green, and I was, with the assistance of my waiting-maid,
employed in rapidly divesting myself of the rich ornaments which, in
profuseness and value, could scarcely have found their equals in any
private family in Ireland.

I had thrown myself into a lounging-chair beside the fire, listless and
exhausted, after the fatigues of the evening, when I was aroused
from the reverie into which I had fallen by the sound of footsteps
approaching my chamber, and my mother entered.

'Fanny, my dear,' said she, in her softest tone, 'I wish to say a word
or two with you before I go to rest. You are not fatigued, love, I
hope?'

'No, no, madam, I thank you,' said I, rising at the same time from my
seat, with the formal respect so little practised now.

'Sit down, my dear,' said she, placing herself upon a chair beside me;
'I must chat with you for a quarter of an hour or so. Saunders' (to the
maid) 'you may leave the room; do not close the room-door, but shut that
of the lobby.'

This precaution against curious ears having been taken as directed, my
mother proceeded.

'You have observed, I should suppose, my dearest Fanny--indeed, you MUST
have observed Lord Glenfallen's marked attentions to you?'

'I assure you, madam----' I began.

'Well, well, that is all right,' interrupted my mother; 'of course you
must be modest upon the matter; but listen to me for a few moments, my
love, and I will prove to your satisfaction that your modesty is quite
unnecessary in this case. You have done better than we could have hoped,
at least so very soon. Lord Glenfallen is in love with you. I give you
joy of your conquest;' and saying this, my mother kissed my forehead.

'In love with me!' I exclaimed, in unfeigned astonishment.

'Yes, in love with you,' repeated my mother; 'devotedly, distractedly in
love with you. Why, my dear, what is there wonderful in it? Look in the
glass, and look at these,' she continued, pointing with a smile to the
jewels which I had just removed from my person, and which now lay a
glittering heap upon the table.

'May there not,' said I, hesitating between confus