r was unsullied by a cloud and she poured out her heart in the fullest
confidence of pious love and heartfelt gratitude.

As early on the succeeding morning as good-breeding would allow, and much
earlier than the hour sanctioned by fashion, the earl and Lady Marian
stopped in the carriage of the latter at the door of Sir Edward Moseley.
Their reception was the most flattering that could be offered to people of
their stamp; sincere, cordial, and, with a trifling exception in Lady
Moseley, unfettered with any useless ceremonies.

Emily felt herself drawn to her new acquaintance with a fondness which
doubtless grew out of her situation with her brother; which soon found
reasons enough in the soft, lady-like, and sincere manners of Lady Marian,
to, justify her attachment on her own account.

There was a very handsome suite of drawing-rooms in Sir Edward's house,
and the communicating doors were carelessly open. Curiosity to view the
furniture, or some such trifling reasons, induced the earl to find his way
into the one adjoining that in which the family were seated. It was
unquestionably a dread of being lost in a strange house, that induced him
to whisper a request to the blushing Emily, to be his companion; and
lastly, it must have been nothing but a knowledge that a vacant room was
easier viewed than one filled with company, that prevented any one from
following them. John smiled archly at Grace, doubtless in approbation of
the comfortable time his friend was likely to enjoy, in his musings on the
taste of their mother. How the door became shut, we have ever been at a
loss to imagine.

The company without were too good-natured and well satisfied with each
other to miss the absentees, until the figure of the earl appeared at the
reopened door, beckoning, with a face of rapture, to Lady Moseley and Mrs.
Wilson. Sir Edward next disappeared, then Jane, then Grace--then Marian;
until John began to think a tete-a-tete with Mr. Benfield was to be his
morning's amusement.

The lovely countenance of his wife, however, soon relieved his ennui, and
John's curiosity was gratified by an order to prepare for his sister's
wedding the following week.

Emily might have blushed more than common during this interview, but it is
certain she did not smile less; and the earl, Lady Marian assured Sir
Edward, was so very different a creature from what he had recently been,
that she could hardly think it was the same sombre gentleman with w