he lost some hundreds, she said she could now with a safe conscience
borrow that sum from her charity purse, which she had hoped to add to
it, to pay her debt of honor."

Next day, within two hours of her appointed time, she came, and was
complimented by Sir John on her punctuality. "Indeed," said she, "I _am_
rather late, but I met with such a fascinating German novel, that it
positively chained me to my bed till past three. I assure you, I never
lose time by not rising. In the course of a few winters I have exhausted
half Hookham's catalogue, before some of my acquaintance are awake, or I
myself out of bed."

We soon stopped at the humble door of which we were in search. Sir John
conducted Lady Melbury up the little winding stairs. I assisted Lady
Belfield. We reached the room, where Fanny was just finishing a
beautiful bunch of jonquils. "How picturesque," whispered Lady Melbury
to me. "Do lend me your pencil; I must take a sketch of that sweet girl
with the jonquils in her hand. My dear creature," continued she, "you
must not only let me have these, but you must make me twelve dozen more
flowers as fast as possible, and be sure let me have a great many sprigs
of jessamine and myrtle." Then snatching up a wreath of various colored
geraniums--"I must try this on my head by the glass." So saying she ran
into an adjoining room, the door of which was open; Lady Belfield having
before stolen into it to speak to the poor invalid.

As soon as Lady Melbury got into the room, she uttered a loud shriek.
Sir John and I ran in, and were shocked to find her near fainting. "Oh,
Belfield," said she, "this is a trick, and a most cruel one! Why did you
not tell me where you were bringing me? Why did you not tell me the
people's name?" "I have never heard it myself," said Sir John, "on my
honor I do not understand you." "You know as much of the woman as I
know," said Lady Belfield. "Alas, much more," cried she, as fast as her
tears would give her leave to speak. She retired to the window for air,
wringing her hands, and called for a glass of water to keep her from
fainting. I turned to the sick woman for an explanation; I saw her
countenance much changed.

"This sir," said she, "is the lady, whose debt of seven hundred pounds
ruined me, and was the death of my husband." I was thunderstruck, but
went to assist Lady Melbury, who implored Sir John to go home with her
instantly, saying, her coach should come back for us. "But, dear Lad