e features as he uttered the latter part of
the sentence, which was returned by Emily with a look of archness and
pleasure that would have graced her happiest moments of juvenile joy.

There was such an interchange of looks, and such a visible alteration in
the appearance of her guests, that it could not but attract the notice of
Lady Chatterton. After listening to the conversation between them for some
time in silence; and wondering what could have wrought so sudden a change
below stairs, she broke forth with saying,--"Upon my word, you are an
incomprehensible party to me. I left you ladies alone, and find a
gentleman with you. I left you grave, if not melancholy, and find you all
life and gaiety. I find you with a stranger, and you talk with him about
walks, and rides, and scenes, and acquaintances. Will _you_, madam, or
_you_, my lord, be so kind as to explain these seeming inconsistencies?"

"No," cried the earl, "to punish your curiosity, I will keep you in
ignorance; but Marian is in waiting for me at your neighbor's, Mrs.
Wilmot, and I must hasten to her--- you will see us both by five." Rising
from his seat he took the offered hand of Mrs. Wilson and pressed it to
his lips. To Emily he also extended his hand, and received hers in return,
though with a face suffused with the color of the rose. Pendennyss held it
to his heart for a moment with fervor, and kissing it, precipitately left
the room. Emily concealed her face with her hands, and, dissolving in
tears, sought the retirement of an adjoining apartment.

All these unaccountable movements filled Lady Chatterton with amazement,
that would have been too painful for further endurance; and Mrs. Wilson,
knowing that further concealment with so near a connexion would be
impossible, if not unnecessary, entered into a brief explanation of the
earl's masquerade (although ignorant herself of its cause, or of the means
of supporting it), and his present relation with her niece.

"I declare it is provoking," cried Lady Chatterton, with a tear in her
eye, "to have such ingenious plans as Derwent and I had made lost from the
want of necessity in putting them in force. Your demure niece has deceived
us all handsomely; and my rigid cousin, too--I will rate him soundly for
his deception."

"I believe he already repents sincerely of his having practised it," said
Mrs. Wilson, "and is sufficiently punished for his error by its
consequence. A life of misery for four months is