I do full justice to your motives.

I appreciate your kindness, but in this manner I cannot help you.

Stay and take dinner with us; then we can consult as to what is best to be done." "May I give your ladyship one piece of advice ?" said the lawyer.

"Have the papers--yesterday's and today's--destroyed, so that no rumor of anything amiss can reach your servants; also say nothing of it--it may possibly die away, as some rumors do.

Your visitors and friends will not broach such a subject to you, I am sure." "I shall not mention it," she replied; "although Marion will be sure to suspect something wrong." At that moment the last dressing-bell rang.
"You will join us in a few minutes," said Lady Carruthers; "never mind your traveling-dress; Miss Hautville and I are quite alone." No one who saw Lady Carruthers leave the library with stately step and dignified air, would have believed that she had received a blow which laid her life and all her hopes in ruins--as the lightning smites the lofty oak.