She has got horrible news to tell you." "Oh, heavens! What news ?" "I suppose she will tell you, though she has not been communicative to me in regard to your royal highness.

The news is simply that her mother is going to take her to Brussels, and that she is to live for a while amid the ambassadorial splendors with Sir Magnus and his wife." By retiring from the world Mrs.Mountjoy had not intended to include such slight social relaxations as Mrs.Armitage's party, for Harry on turning round encountered her talking to another Cheltenham lady.

He greeted her with his pleasantest smile, to which Mrs.Mountjoy did not respond quite so sweetly.

She had ever greatly feared Harry Annesley, and had to-day heard a story very much, as she thought, to his discredit.

"Is your daughter here ?" asked Harry, with well-trained hypocrisy.