both her sisters had gone down from London, and were then with her."
The poor girl was exceedingly struck and grieved. She felt as if the happiness she had experienced in the late week had been a positive sin, and she could never sufficiently blame herself for not having inquired concerning the painful news to which Lady Rotheles had alluded—"she ought to have known it belonged to some one in her own family, as being her uncle's only near relations; she ought to have remembered that mamma had fainted, which she never did before"—and she inquired eagerly of Lord Meersbrook, "if he had seen any thing particular in Lady Anne's looks, the evening he passed in her company?"
"There is no company in a great crowd," said he, in reply. "I believe I spoke to Lady Anne only once en passant; and merely remember that she was splendidly dressed, and I thought herself and her companion, Count Riccardini, the handsomest people in the room. I came away early, but think she went away before me—at six, next morning, I set out for Kent."
"Who is this Riccardini?" said Lord Rotheles, who had returned into the room whilst Lord Meersbrook was speaking.
"I understood him to be the brother-in-law of Lady Anne Granard, and the particular friend of her son-in-law, Mr. Glentworth. He only arrived the first day of the fancy fair, but he made an impression that might be considered universal, and Lady Anne seemed to rejoice exceedingly in his arrival."
