ve their treat to Greenwich, nor
did Blanche pay her visit to Fanny Bolton on that day. And Cos, who took
occasion majestically to inquire of Grady what the mischief was, and
who was crying?--had for answer that 'twas a woman, another of them, and
that they were, in Grady's opinion, the cause of 'most all the mischief
in the world.

CHAPTER LXVII. In which Pen begins to doubt about his Election

Whilst Pen, in his own county, was thus carrying on his selfish plans
and parliamentary schemes, news came to him that Lady Rockminster had
arrived at Baymouth, and had brought with her our friend Laura. At the
announcement that Laura his sister was near him, Pen felt rather guilty.
His wish was to stand higher in her esteem, perhaps; than in that of any
other person in the world. She was his mother's legacy to him. He was to
be her patron and protector in some sort. How would she brave the news
which he had to tell her; and how should he explain the plans which he
was meditating? He felt as if neither he nor Blanche could bear Laura's
dazzling glance of calm scrutiny, and as if he would not dare to
disclose his worldly hopes and ambitions to that spotless judge. At her
arrival at Baymouth, he wrote a letter thither which contained a great
number of fine phrases and protests of affection, and a great deal of
easy satire and raillery; in the midst of all which Mr. Pen could not
help feeling that he was in panic, and that he was acting like a rogue
and hypocrite.

How was it that a simple country girl should be the object of fear and
trembling to such an accomplished gentleman as Mr. Pen? His worldly
tactics and diplomacy, his satire and knowledge of the world, could
not bear the test of her purity, he felt somehow. And he had to own to
himself that his affairs were in such a position, that he could not tell
the truth to that honest soul. As he rode from Clavering to Baymouth he
felt as guilty as a schoolboy who doesn't know his lesson and is about
to face the awful master. For is not truth the master always, and does
she not have the power and hold the book?

Under the charge of her kind, though somewhat wayward and absolute
patroness, Lady Rockminster, Laura had seen somewhat of the world in
the last year, had gathered some accomplishments, and profited by the
lessons of society. Many a girl who had been accustomed to that too
great tenderness in which Laura's early life had been passed, would have
been unfitted for