guests; entreating her at the same time, to hasten whatever supper could be procured. She directly left the parlour, but was greatly surprised to find two females standing in the hall, younger, but not quite so well dressed as the Countess. She expressed her regret at their having continued so long in such a situation, and her wonder at their not having accompanied the Countess into the parlour: they smiled on each other at this, and said they were only her attendants. Madeline blushed at her mistake, for she had supposed them companions of the Countess, and conducted them into a small room adjoining the parlour, used by her father as a study: here, having procured lights, she left them. She found Jaqueline stirring up the fire, and asked her how she could suffer the strangers to continue so long in the hall?
"Why, Lord a mercy, Mam'selle (said Jaqueline), how could I think of every thing? here have I been in such a fuss, ransacking my brain to know what we should do about supper. Lord, what an unlucky thing it was
