has not a
thousand a year he can call his own. We are all so pleased,' added Mrs.
Montgomery Floyd, as if she were quite one of the family. 'Is it not
delightful?'

'They are to be married next month,' said Lady Bellair. 'I did not quite
make the match, but I did something. I love the Grandisons, because Lord
Grandison was my son's friend fifty years ago.'

'I never knew a person so pleased as Lady Armine is,' continued Mrs.
Montgomery Floyd. 'The truth is, Captain Armine has been wild, very wild
indeed; a little of a _roue_; but then such a fine young man, so very
handsome, so truly distinguished, as Lady Bellair says, what could you
expect? But he has sown his wild oats now. They have been engaged these
six months; ever since he came from abroad. He has been at Bath all the
time, except for a fortnight or so, when he went to his Place to make
the necessary preparations. We all so missed him. Captain Armine was
quite the life of Bath I am almost ashamed to repeat what was said of
him,' added Mrs. Montgomery Floyd, blushing through her rouge; 'but they
said every woman was in love with him.'

'Fortunate man!' said Mr. Temple, bowing, but with a grave expression.

'And he says, he is only going to marry because he is wearied of
conquests,' continued Mrs. Montgomery Floyd; 'how impertinent, is it
not? But Captain Armine says such things! He is quite a privileged
person at Bath!'

Miss Temple rose and left the room. When the hour of general retirement
had arrived, she had not returned. Her maid brought a message that
her mistress was not very well, and offered her excuses for not again
descending.

CHAPTER VII.

_In Which Mr. Temple Pays a Visit to His Daughter's
Chamber_.

HENRIETTA, when she quitted the room, never stopped until she had gained
her own chamber. She had no light but a straggling moonbeam revealed
sufficient.

She threw herself upon her bed, choked with emotion. She was incapable
of thought; a chaos of wild images flitted over her brain. Thus had she
remained, perchance an hour, with scarcely self-consciousness, when her
servant entered with a light to arrange her chamber, and nearly shrieked
when, on turning round, she beheld her mistress.

This intrusion impressed upon Miss Temple the absolute necessity of
some exertion, if only to preserve herself at this moment from renewed
interruptions. She remembered where she was, she called back with an
effort some recollection of her