both her
parents.'

"Here I interrupted her," continued Lady Belfield, "saying, 'You have
not far to seek: Fanny Stokes is in this house. She is appointed
governess to our children.'

"Poor Lady Melbury's joy was excessive at this intelligence, and she
proceeded: 'That a too sudden return to the world might not weaken my
better purposes, I was preparing to request my lord's permission to go
back to the castle, when he prevented me, by telling me that he had had
an earnest desire to make a visit to the brave patriots in Spain, and to
pass the winter among them, but feared he must give it up, as the state
of the continent rendered it impossible for me to accompany him.

"'This filled my heart with joy. I encouraged him to make the voyage,
assured him I would live under Lady Jane's observation, and that I would
pass the whole winter in the country.'

"'Then you shall pass it with us at Beechwood, my dear Lady Melbury,'
cried Sir John and I, both at once; 'we will strengthen each other in
every virtuous purpose. We shall rejoice in Lady Jane's company.'

"She joyfully accepted the proposal, not doubting her lord's consent;
and kindly said, that she should be doubly happy in a society at once so
rational and so elegant.

"It was settled that she should spend with us the three months that
Fanny Stokes and little Caroline are to pass at Stanley Grove. She
desired to see Fanny, to whom she behaved with great tenderness. She
paid her the two hundred pounds, assuring her she had no doubt of being
able to discharge the whole debt in the spring.

"I received a note from her the next day, informing me of her lord's
cheerful concurrence, as well as that of Lady Jane. She added, that when
she went up to dress, she had found on her toilette, her diamond
necklace, which her dear aunt had redeemed and restored to her, as a
proof of her confidence and affection. As Lady Melbury has forever
abolished her coterie, I have the most sanguine hope of her
perseverance. All her promises would have gone for nothing, without this
practical pledge of her sincerity."

When Lady Belfield had finished her little tale, I expressed, in the
strongest terms, the delight I felt at the happy change in this charming
woman. I could not forbear observing to Sir John, that as Lady Melbury
had been the "glass of fashion," while her conduct was wrong, I hoped
she would not lose all her influence by its becoming right. I added with
a smile, "in that case,