swelled to a certainty in my imagination, so ardent and heated on the
one subject; and as soon as I regained my room, I threw myself on the
sofa, and fell into a deep reverie. I tried to approximate the features
of Lady Maelstrom to mine, but all the ingenuity in the world could not
affect that; but still, I might be like my father--but my father was
dead, and that threw a chill over the whole glowing picture which I had,
as usual, conjured up; besides, it was asserted that I was born in
wedlock, and there was a doubt relative to the marriage of her ladyship.

After a long cogitation I jumped up, seized my hat, and set off for
Grosvenor Square, determining to ask a private interview with her
ladyship, and at once end my harassing doubts and surmises. I think
there could not be a greater proof of my madness than my venturing to
attack a lady of forty upon the irregularities of her youth, and to
question her upon a subject which had been confided but to two or three,
and she imagined had been long forgotten: but this never struck me; all
considerations were levelled in my ardent pursuit. I walked through the
streets at a rapid pace, the crowd passed by me as shadows, I neither
saw nor distinguished them; I was deep in reverie as to the best way of
breaking the subject to her ladyship, for, notwithstanding my monomania,
I perceived it to be a point of great delicacy. After having overturned
about twenty people in my mad career, I arrived at the door and knocked.
My heart beat almost as hard against my ribs with excitement.

"Is her ladyship at home?"

"Yes, sir."

I was ushered into the drawing-room, and found her sitting with two of
her nieces, the Misses Fairfax.

"Mr Newland, you have been quite a stranger," said her ladyship, as I
walked up to her and made my obeisance. "I did intend to scold you
well; but I suppose that sad affair of poor Major Carbonnell's has been
a heavy blow to you--you were so intimate--lived together, I believe,
did you not? However, you have not so much cause to regret, for he was
not a very proper companion for young men like you: to tell you the
truth, I consider it as a fortunate circumstance that he was removed,
for he would, by degrees, have led you into all manner of mischief, and
have persuaded you to squander your fortune. I did at one time think of
giving you a hint, but it was a delicate point. Now that he is gone, I
tell you very candidly that you have had an escape. A