She looked round, fearing, yet longing to see another, but Lord Louis was alone.

His preceptor was not near him, but Mr.and Mrs.Hamilton, St.Eval and Herbert had also left the room.

Some little time passed in animated conversation, still Myrvin did not appear.
"You are wanted in the library, dearest Emmeline," said the young Countess St.Eval.
"Come with me, Emmeline: foolish girl, 'fear nothing,'" said the Earl, joyously.
"Smile, gentle one," he whispered, as she turned her beseeching glance towards him, "do not greet the husband your parents have selected for you with a countenance such as this; nay, fear nothing," he repeated, as her steps faltered, and every limb trembled at his words.

Again he smiled as he had once before during that evening, and for the first time a gleam of sudden light darted across the bewildered mind of the agitated girl, but so dazzling were the rays, so overpowering the brilliancy, from the contrast with the deep gloom which had been there before, that she could not believe it real; she deemed it some wild freak of fancy, that sportive fancy which had so long deserted her.

St.
Eval hurried on, supporting rather than leading his companion.