hess,
she was in the conservatory, which was gaily illuminated with coloured
lamps among the shrubs. Her Grace was conversing with cordiality with
a lady of very prepossessing appearance, in whom the traces of a beauty
once distinguished were indeed still considerable, and her companion,
an extremely pretty person, in the very bloom of girlhood. Lord Montfort
and Henrietta were immediately introduced to these ladies, as Lady
Armine and Miss Grandison. After the scene of the morning, it was not
easy to deprive Miss Temple of her equanimity; after that shock, no
incident connected with the Armine family could be surprising; she
was even desirous of becoming acquainted with Miss Grandison, and she
congratulated herself upon the opportunity which had so speedily offered
itself to gratify her wishes. The duchess was perfectly delighted with
Lady Armine, whose manners were fascinating; between the families there
was some connection of blood, and Lady Armine, too, had always retained
a lively sense of the old duke's services to her son. Henrietta had even
to listen to enquiries made after Ferdinand, and she learnt that he was
slowly recovering from an almost fatal illness, that he could not endure
the fatigues of society, and that he was even living at an hotel for the
sake of quiet. Henrietta watched the countenance of Katherine, as Lady
Armine gave this information. It was serious, but not disturbed. Her
Grace did not separate from her new friends the whole of the evening,
and they parted with a mutually expressed wish that they might speedily
and often meet. The duchess pronounced Lady Armine the most charming
person she had ever met; while, on the other hand, Miss Grandison was
warm in her admiration of Henrietta Temple and Lord Montfort, whom she
thought quite worthy even of so rare a prize.

CHAPTER VII.

_Containing a Very Important Communication_.

BETWEEN the unexpected meeting with Captain Armine in the morning and
the evening assembly at Bellair House, a communication had been made by
Miss Temple to Lord Montfort, which ought not to be quite unnoticed.
She had returned home with his mother and himself, and her silence and
depression had not escaped him. Soon after their arrival they were left
alone, and then Henrietta said, 'Digby, I wish to speak to you!'

'My own!' said Lord Montfort, as he seated himself by her on the sofa,
and took her hand.

Miss Temple was calm; but he would have been a light o