If the silly girl had ever reflected at all, she would at once have known that she loved St.Eval and not Lord Alphingham; that her mother is her truest friend, and not Annie Grahame; but as she chooses to remain so stupidly blind and trusting, why I see no harm in playing my part, and as for her consenting, let her but hear the honourable Viscount's sweet persuasive eloquence and look on his handsome and pleading features, and consent will quickly be obtained." "But why should he not demand her at once of her father?
Mr.Hamilton is always friendly with him when they meet." "You have just hit the mark, _ma chere_.

That very truth was always a stumbling block in my machinations, for I almost feared, by Mr.
Hamilton's manner towards him, that the interesting tales concerning his youth, which I had intended should be poured into his wife's ear, might be disregarded; such from the first had been my intention, but I have felt puzzled in a degree how to set about it." "Nay, you do yourself injury, my dearest Miss Grahame," observed the ex-governess, officiously.

"From your earliest years you were never puzzled at anything." "My wits deserted me then for the moment," replied Annie, laughing, "and would perhaps have returned when my plot was ripe for execution; but I am happy to say I can dispense with their assistance, as I have received it most effectually from a member of Mr.Hamilton's own family." "How!" exclaimed Miss Malison, much astonished.
"Even so, _ma chere_; and now we come to the important intelligence Caroline brought me this morning.

It appears, that last week Mr.
Hamilton received a letter from Percy, which by her account must have contained some mysterious warning against this very Lord Alphingham, that his attentions to Caroline had been not only remarked, but reported to him, and conjuring his father, as he valued Caroline's future peace, to dismiss him at once and peremptorily.

Thus much Mr.Hamilton imparted to his daughter, a few days after the receipt of this letter, and after bestowing some little approbation on her conduct towards him, which you know before her parents is always particularly cold and guarded, he requested, or rather desired, that she would gradually withdraw herself entirely from his society, as he had received quite sufficient confirmation of that letter to render him anxious to break off all further communication and acquaintance with him.