"Oh, from Mr. Palmer!—thank you, my lord; it is quite right—I had forty pounds before. Pray, how are my dear neighbours?"
"Very well, and will, I hope, be here to-morrow," replied the young nobleman, divided betwixt remembered anger on his brother's account, and a really anxious desire to examine the stock before him, behind which he expected Helen was shrouded.
In consequence of a look from her mother, Lady Jemima poked a pair of hand-screens before his eyes, saying, "Ye'll jist luik at these, my laird, it'll be long ere ye see twa bonnier, I'm thinking."
Lord Meersbrook smiled; they were old acquaintances, and bought immediately. A card-case, on which were delicate pencil-drawings, was also selected—the dumpy bride choosing to claim attention from "the observed of all observers."
"It is hard upon me," said Lady Anne, observing a something in the eye of the purchaser denoting dissatisfaction, "to be without a daughter on this gay but really fatiguing occasion, the fact being, that Helen has worked herself ill for the charity, and Georgiana is at Rotheles Castle, where I don't suppose she durst name such a thing as coming here, for my brother dislikes bazaars. Poor man! it is but too natural he should, as his first countess eloped from one, and the very name leaves a painful impression, unhappily revived by Lady Allerton, his niece by marriage."
The latter words were spoken in a low and confiden-
