Miss Grandison?' said his lordship,
very quietly.

'Perhaps London does not agree with her; but then, when she was ill
before she was in the country; and it seems to me to be the same
illness. I wonder you do not notice it, Lord Montfort. A lover to be so
insensible, I am surprised!'

'It is useless to notice that which you cannot remedy.'

'Why do you not call in those who can offer remedies?' said Miss
Grandison. 'Why not send for Sir Henry?'

'I think it best to leave Henrietta alone,' said Lord Montfort.

'Do you think it is the mind, then?' said Miss Grandison.

'It may be,' said Lord Montford.

'It may be! Upon my word, you are very easy.'

'I am not indifferent, Miss Grandison. There is nothing that I would not
do for Henrietta's welfare.'

'Oh! yes, there is; there is something,' said Miss Grandison, rather
maliciously.

'You are really an extraordinary person, Miss Grandison,' said Lord
Montfort. 'What can you mean by so strange an observation?'

'I have my meaning; but I suppose I may have a mystery as well as
anybody else.'

'A mystery, Miss Grandison?'

'Yes! a mystery, Lord Montfort. There is not a single individual in the
three families who has not a mystery, except myself; but I have found
out something. I feel quite easy now: we are all upon an equality.'

'You are a strange person.'

'It may be so; but I am happy, for I have nothing on my mind. Now that
poor Ferdinand has told Sir Ratcliffe we are not going to marry, I have
no part to play. I hate deception; it is almost as bitter as marrying
one who is in love with another person.'

'That must indeed be bitter. And is that the reason that you do not
marry your cousin?' enquired Lord Montfort.

'I may be in love with another person, or I may not,' said Miss
Grandison. 'But, however that may be, the moment Ferdinand very candidly
told me he was, we decided not to marry. I think we were wise; do not
you. Lord Montfort?'

'If you are happy, you were wise,' said Lord Montfort.

'Yes, I am pretty happy: as happy as I can well be when all my best
friends are miserable.'

'Are they?'

'I think so: my aunt is in tears; my uncle in despair; Ferdinand
meditates suicide; Henrietta is pining away; and you, who are the
philosopher of the society, you look rather grave. I fancy I think we
are a most miserable set.'

'I wish we could be all happy,' said Lord Montfort.

'And so we might, I think,' said Miss Grandison; 'at least, some of u