There, to her amazement, she saw Miss Selina and Mr.Ascott standing, in close conversation, over the fire.

They were so engrossed that they did not notice her, and she shut door again immediately.

But what confounded her was, that she was certain, absolutely certain, Mr.Ascott had his arm round Miss Selina's waist! Now that was no business of hers, and yet the faithful domestic was a good deal troubled; still more so, when, by Miss Leaf's excessive surprise at hearing of the visitor who had come and gone, carrying Miss Selina away to the city, she was certain the elder sister was completely in the dark as to any thing going to happen in the family.
Could it be a wedding?
Could Miss Selina really love, and be intending to marry, that horrid little man?
For strange to say, this young servant had, what many a young beauty of rank and fashion has not, or has lost forever--the true, pure, womanly creed, that loving and marrying are synonymous terms; that to let a man put his arm round your waist when you do not intend to marry him, or to intend to marry him for money or any thing else when you do not really love him, are things quite impossible and incredible to any womanly mind.
A creed somewhat out of date, and perhaps existing only in stray nooks of the world; but thank God! it does exist.

Hilary had it, and she had taught it to Elizabeth.
"I wonder whether Miss Hilary knows of this?
I wonder what she would say to it ?" And now arose the perplexing ethical question aforesaid, as to whether Elizabeth ought to tell her.
It was one of Miss Hilary's doctrines--the same for the kitchen as for the parlor, nay, preached strongest in the kitchen, where the mysteries of the parlor are often so cruelly exposed--that a secret accidentally found out should be kept as sacred as if actually confided; also, that the secret of an enemy should no more be betrayed than that of a beloved and trusting friend.
"Miss Selina isn't my enemy," smiled Elizabeth: "but I'm not overfond of her, and so I'd rather not tell of her, or vex her if I can help it.

Any how, I'll keep it to myself for a bit." But the secret weighed heavily upon her, and besides, her honest heart felt a certain diminution of respect for Miss Selina.