This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
ROMANCE AND REALITY.
135

Mr. Boyne Sillery hand her aunt into a carriage, jump in himself, when it drove off with a rapidity which scarcely allowed her to observe that a large imperial was on the top, and her aunt's servant, with a huge bandbox, on the dickey.

Emily rang her bell. It was answered by the housemaid, with a great white satin bow, by way of favour, in her cap.

"What carriage was that?"

"Lord, miss! don't you know that mistress is gone to be married this morning?"

"Married! Where?"

"Lord love you, miss! we did think you were to be bridemaid, till mistress told us not to call you."

"But where is Mrs. Arundel gone?"

This the girl did not know.

Emily soon learned that Mr. Boyne Sillery's late absence was in the way of business. He had been residing at the little town of C——, and there her infatuated aunt was to be married. A lady's-maid from town, recommended by Mr. Sillery, had been her only confidante, as she was now her only companion.

Emily wandered up and down the house disconsolately. How large, how empty, how