set himself against it; and that, in fact, with a good
certificate as to character, and the approved guarantee of respectable
people, who had known you some years--"

"I implore you to stop."

"Of course I'll stop when you tell me the theme is one too delicate to
follow up; but, like all the world, you let one run into every sort
of indiscretion, and only cry Halt when it is too late to retire. The
Grahams, however, are excellent people,--old G. G., as they call him, a
distinguished officer. He cut out somebody or something from under the
guns of a Spanish fort, and the girls have refused--let me see whom they
have not refused; but I 'll make them tell you, for we 'll certainly
call there on our way back."

The malicious drollery with which she poured out all this had heightened
her color and given increased brilliancy to her eyes. Instead of the
languid delicacy which usually marked her features, they shone now with
animation and excitement, and became in consequence far more beautiful.
So striking was the change that Maitland paid little attention to the
words, while he gazed with rapture at the speaker.

It must have been a very palpable admiration he bestowed, for she drew
down her veil with an impatient jerk of the hand, and said, "Well, sir,
doesn't this arrangement suit you, or would you rather make your visit
to Port-Graham alone?"

"I almost think I would," said he, laughing. "I suspect it would be
safer."

"Oh, now that I know your intentions,--that you have made me your
confidante,--you 'll see that I can be a marvel of discretion."

"Put up your veil again, and you may be as _maligne_ as you please."

"There! yonder is Tilney," said she, hastily, "where you see those fine
trees. Are the horses distressed, George?"

"Well, ma'am, they 've had enough of it"

"I mean, are they too tired to go round by the river-side and the old
gate?"

"It's a good two miles round, ma'am."

"Oh, I know what that means," said she, in a whisper. "If there should
be anything amiss for the next three months, it will be that cruel day's
work down at Tilney will be charged with it. Go in by the new lodge,"
added she, aloud; "and as they have innumerable carriages here, Mr.
Maitland, I 'll take you a drive over there to-morrow. It's a very nice
thing, is n't it, to be as rich as old Mrs. Maxwell, and to be always
playing the part of 'Good Fairy,' giving splendid banquets, delicious
little country-parties to all the worl