interested in her cousin's welfare, and devoted to the Armine family.
All her thoughts and all her energies were engaged in counteracting,
if possible, the consequences of those unhappy misconceptions which had
placed them all in this painful position.

It was on the next day that she had promised to accompany the duchess
and Henrietta on a water excursion. Lord Montfort was to be their
cavalier. In the morning she found herself alone with his lordship in
St. James'-square.

'What a charming day!' said Miss Grandison. 'I anticipate so much
pleasure! Who is our party?'

'Ourselves alone,' said Lord Montfort. 'Lady Armine cannot come, and
Captain Armine is engaged. I fear you will find it very dull, Miss
Grandison.'

'Oh! not at all. By-the-bye, do you know I was surprised yesterday at
finding that Ferdinand and Henrietta were such old acquaintances.'

'Were you?' said Lord Montfort, in a peculiar tone.

'It is odd that Ferdinand never will go with us anywhere. I think it is
very bad taste.'

'I think so too,' said Lord Montfort.

'I should have thought that Henrietta was the very person he would have
admired; that he would have been quite glad to be with us. I can
easily understand his being wearied to death with a cousin,' said Miss
Grandison; 'but Henrietta,--it is so strange that he should not avail
himself of the delight of being with her.'

'Do you really think that such a cousin as Miss Grandison can drive him
away?'

'Why, to tell you the truth, dear Lord Montfort, Ferdinand is placed in
a very awkward position with me. You are our friend, and so I speak
to you in confidence. Sir Ratcliffe and Lady Armine both expect that
Ferdinand and myself are going to be married. Now, neither of us has the
slightest intention of anything of the sort.'

'Very strange, indeed,' said Lord Montfort. 'The world will be much
astonished, more so than myself, for I confess to a latent suspicion on
the subject.'

'Yes, I was aware of that,' said Miss Grandison, 'or I should not have
spoken with so much frankness. For my own part, I think we are very wise
to insist upon having our own way, for an ill-assorted marriage must be
a most melancholy business.' Miss Grandison spoke with an air almost of
levity, which was rather unusual with her.

'An ill-assorted marriage,' said Lord Montfort. 'And what do you call an
ill-assorted marriage, Miss Grandison?'

'Why, many circumstances might constitute such an union,' said
Kath