ld--the mother to display the triumph of her
matrimonial schemes. And Grace was forced to obey her mother's commands,
in accompanying her sister as an attendant, not to be dispensed with at
all in her circumstances.

The entrance of John at that instant, though nothing more than what
occurred every day at that hour, deranged the whole plan: the dowager, for
a moment, forgot her resolution, and forgot the necessity of Grace's
appearance, exclaiming with evident satisfaction,

"Here is Mr. Moseley come to keep you company, Grace; so, after all, you
must consult your headache and stay at home. Indeed, my love, I never can
consent you should go out. I not only wish, but insist you remain within
this morning."

Lord Herriefield looked at his mother-in-law in some surprise, and threw a
suspicious glance on his own rib at the moment, which spoke as plainly as
looks can speak,

"Is it possible I have been taken in after all!"

Grace was unused to resist her mother's commands, and throwing off her hat
and shawl, reseated herself with more composure than she would probably
have done, had not the attentions of Moseley been more delicate and
pointed of late than formerly.

As they passed the porter, Lady Chatterton observed to him
significantly--"Nobody at home, Willis."--"Yes, my lady," was the laconic
reply, and Lord Herriefield, as he took his seat by the side of his wife
in the carriage, thought she was not as handsome as usual.

Lady Chatterton that morning unguardedly laid the foundation of years of
misery for her eldest daughter; or rather the foundations were already
laid in the ill-assorted, and heartless, unprincipled union she had
labored with success to effect. But she, had that morning stripped the
mask from her own character prematurely, and excited suspicions in the
breast of her son-in-law, which time only served to confirm, and memory to
brood over.

Lord Herriefield had been too long in the world not to understand all the
ordinary arts of match-makers and match-hunters. Like most of his own sex
who have associated freely with the worst part of the other, his opinions
of female excellences were by no means extravagant or romantic. Kate had
pleased his eye; she was of a noble family; young, and at that moment
interestingly quiet, having nothing particularly in view. She had a taste
of her own, and Lord Herriefield was by no means in conformity with it;
consequently, she expended none of those pretty little