to the Carset blood, I wonder?"

The waiting-maid stood petrified when the old countess broke into a
soft, pleasant laugh, at what she deemed the insolent familiarity of
this speech. "Did you hear that?" she exclaimed, wiping the moisture
from her eyes, and increasing the vibrations of her head.

"Who but a Carset would dare ask such questions? Getting into scrapes,
child; why there never was a family so reckless or so independent. That
is, I speak of the males, remember! the ladies of the house--but you
will see in the picture gallery, and judge for yourself. No commonplace
women can be found among the Carset ladies. Some of them, my child, have
intermarried with Royalty itself. You are the last of the line, Lady
Clara."

Clara turned pale. She thought of Hepworth Closs, and how far he was
removed from royalty; but with no thought of faithlessness in her heart.
She was very sure that the next Lord of Houghton would wear neither
crown or coronet--but, like a wise girl, she sat still and said nothing.

The old countess was very feeble. Notwithstanding the excitement, which
left a tremulous pink on her withered cheeks, the strength began to fail
from her limbs. Gathering up her feet upon the couch, she closed her
eyes.

When she opened them again, Lady Clara was bending toward her with a
look of tender anxiety that went to the old lady's heart. A soft smile
stole over her lips, and she held out her hand.

"Go to your room, my child."

Clara stooped down and kissed that delicate mouth with her own blooming
lips.

"Sleep well, grandmother," she whispered; "I will come back again
by-and-by, after I have seen the other ladies in the picture-gallery."

Clara picked up her hat, and was going out on tip-toe, when Judson laid
a long, lean hand on her arm, and addressed her in one of those shrill
whispers, which penetrate more surely than words.

"Don't wear that thing into my lady's presence again," she said. "Did
you see her eyes, when they first fell upon it?"

"What, my poor little hat? Has grandmamma really taken a dislike to
that? I am so sorry."

The old countess opened her eyes, and rose on one elbow among her
cushions.

"Let the child alone, Judson. The hat is well enough, and she looked
very pretty in it."

"Nobby, isn't it, grandmamma?" said Clara, tossing the hat to her head,
and shaking down the blue streamers; "and I'm so fond of it."

"Judson," said the old countess, "do not attempt to judge for