She fancied Allison must have betrayed her, as, when she was every minute expecting to hear the carriage was ready, the Duchess entered her room, and, after a brief but stern interview, ordered her own carriage, and had herself accompanied her to town.
Mrs.Hamilton listened to this long sad tale without interrupting it by a word of reproach.

Not once did she speak aught that might tend to increase the anguish under which it was so evident Caroline was suffering.

Soothingly she spoke, and that fond yet saddened tone caused the poor girl's bursting heart to find relief in a violent flood of tears.

She clung, even as in childhood, to her mother's neck, and as she wept, felt yet more bitterly the infatuated folly of her conduct in having for a moment forsaken the guidance of her true and kindest friend, for the apparently more pleasing, because flattering, confidence of one whom she now knew to be false and utterly deceiving.
"But may he not still claim me ?" she wildly exclaimed.

"Will he not hold me up to the world as a faithless, capricious girl?
I shall be the laughing-stock of all with whom we associate.