n."

"Dear Lady Milborough, you would go out of town at once if I left
you."

"And I shall not go out of town if you don't leave me. What
difference does it make to an old woman like me? I have got no
lover coming to look for me, and all I have to do is to tell my
daughter-in-law that I shall not be there for another week or so.
Augusta is very glad to have me, but she is the wisest woman in the
world, and can get on very well without me."

"And as I am the silliest, I cannot."

"You shall put it in that way if you like it, my dear. Girls in your
position often do want assistance. I dare say you think me very
straight-laced, but I am quite sure Mr. Stanbury will be grateful to
me. As you are to be married from Monkhams, it will be quite well
that you should pass thither through my house as an intermediate
resting-place, after leaving your father and mother." By all which
Lady Milborough intended to express an opinion that the value of
the article which Hugh Stanbury would receive at the altar would be
enhanced by the distinguished purity of the hands through which it
had passed before it came into his possession;--in which opinion she
was probably right as regarded the price put upon the article by
the world at large, though it may perhaps be doubted whether the
recipient himself would be of the same opinion.

"I hope you know that I am grateful, whatever he may be," said Nora,
after a pause.

"I think that you take it as it is meant, and that makes me quite
comfortable."

"Lady Milborough, I shall love you for ever and ever. I don't think I
ever knew anybody so good as you are,--or so nice."

"Then I shall be more than comfortable," said Lady Milborough. After
that there was an embrace, and the thing was settled.

CHAPTER XCV.

TREVELYAN BACK IN ENGLAND.

Nora, with Lady Milborough's carriage, and Lady Milborough's coach
and footman, and with a cab ready for the luggage close behind the
carriage, was waiting at the railway station when the party from
Dover arrived. She soon saw Hugh upon the platform, and ran to
him with her news. They had not a word to say to each other of
themselves, so anxious were they both respecting Trevelyan. "We got a
bed-carriage for him at Dover," said Hugh; "and I think he has borne
the journey pretty well;--but he feels the heat almost as badly as
in Italy. You will hardly know him when you see him." Then, when the
rush of passengers was gone, Trevelyan was brought o