uch harm she had done this woman, whose greatest fault
now seemed to be that Lord Hope had married her.

Her own example had sufficed to exclude Lady Hope from the society to
which her husband's rank entitled her, and her open expressions of
dislike had cast a ban upon the stepmother, which had, to an extent,
reacted on her own grandchild.

These thoughts troubled the proud old peeress a long time before she
gave them expression; but, one day, Clara sat by her, looking a little
sad, for, now that the excitement of her first coming was over, she
began to think of Hepworth Closs--to wonder where he was, and yearn for
some news of him to a degree that clouded her whole bright being like a
feeling of homesickness.

"Poor child!" thought the old lady, while her soft, brown eyes dwelt
upon that downcast face, as it bent over a piece of embroidery in which
a cactus-flower formed the chief central glory; "how weary and troubled
she looks! No wonder, poor thing! half her time is spent here with a
stupid old woman, shut up so long from the world that she is but dull
company for any one. I wonder if the thing which is upon my mind would
really make her happy?"

"Clara."

The girl started. She had been so lost in thought that those bright eyes
had been watching her some minutes, while she unconsciously pursued her
work, and indulged in a reverie which was shadowed upon her features.

"Clara, you have not told me much about your stepmother."

"But I think of her; I was thinking of her then. Indeed, indeed,
grandmamma, I always must love mamma Rachael, for she has been
everything that is good and kind to me--I only wish you could understand
how kind. If I know anything it is because she taught me."

"Among other things, perhaps she taught you to hate that cruel old Lady
Carset," said the countess, a little suspiciously.

"No, grandmamma, no. She never said anything to make me dislike you; but
I did--it was terribly wicked; but how could I help it, loving her so,
and knowing that it was you that stood in the way of all she most
desired in life? Remember, grandmamma, I had never seen you, and I loved
her dearly. It was hard to see her overlooked and put down by people who
were not fit to buckle her shoes, all because you would not like her."

"And you will always love her better than the cruel old lady?"

"Cruel! How can you? There never was a sweeter, kinder, or more lovely
old darling in the world than you are! but then s