please myself and my own heart."

"Certainly," said her ladyship, dubiously; "but remember what I have
always told you--sentiment is the ruin of everything."

And, as Lady Hampton spoke, there came before her the handsome face of
Aubrey Langton. She prayed mentally that he might not appear again at
Darrell Court until Lord Aynsley had proposed and had been accepted.

But Fate was not kind to her.

The next morning Lady Darrell received a letter from the captain, saying
that, as the summer was drawing near, he should be very glad to pay his
long-promised visit to Darrell Court. He hoped to be with them on
Thursday evening.

Lady Darrell's fair face flushed as she read. He was coming, then, this
man who above all others had taken her fancy captive--this man whom,
with all her worldly scheming, she would have married without money if
he had but asked her. He was coming, and he would see her in all the
glory of her prosperity. He would be almost sure to fall in love with
her; and she--well, it was not the first time that she whispered to her
own heart how gladly she would love him. She was too excited by her
pleasant news to be quite prudent. She must have a confidante--she must
tell some one that he was coming.

She went to the study, where Miss Hastings and Pauline were busily
engaged with some water-colors. She held the open letter in her hand.

"Miss Hastings, I have news for you," she said. "I know that all that
interested Sir Oswald is full of interest for you. Pauline, you too will
be pleased to hear that Captain Langton is coming. Sir Oswald loved him
very much."

Pauline knew that, and had cause to regret it.

"I should be much pleased," continued Lady Darrell, "if, without
interfering with your arrangements, you could help me to entertain him."

Miss Hastings looked up with a smile of assent.

"Anything that lies in my power," she said, "I shall be only too happy
to do; but I fear I shall be rather at a loss how to amuse a handsome
young officer like Captain Langton."

Lady Darrell laughed, but looked much pleased.

"You are right," she said--"he is handsome. I do not know that I have
ever seen one more handsome."

Then she stopped abruptly, for she caught the gleam of Pauline's
scornful smile--the dark eyes were looking straight at her. Lady Darrell
blushed crimson, and the smile on Pauline's lips deepened.

"I see my way now," she said to herself. "Time, fate, and opportunity
will combine at l