up to her house, and Frances, followed by her mother, leaped lightly out of it. A radiant smile of happiness was on her beautiful f

e that had come over the feelings of Frances Hildyard-over her whole life!

it impatiently. A hasty embrace, while they were yet uninterrupted,

ered and others were in the room to draw off attentio

n her pure cheek, and a look of

eply to my note, when I

ote?" s

sent you

tter from yo

ls me he delivered it as usual i

e it me," answered

e!" ejaculated

present were leaving, and thei

and ringing for her maid, a chattering French girl, demande

and occasionally introducing a word of her native language. "It came wh

is it?" inqu

was beginning to scan the ground, as if thinking it might have fallen there,

at, and speaking in the mild, monotonous manner which distinguished her

the impetuous flush of anger rose to her brow. Her an

-to-me!" was her exclamation,

kly replied

Did you find it here?" reiterated Fr

der lady, scarcely above a whisper

"And how could you-how dared you break the seal of a letter which bore

was the placid reply. "A sufficient warranty for my proceeding, for I had suspected there

been guilty of is so vile, that, but recently, one committing it was deemed worthy of a felon's

d Miss Louisia Hildyard, crossing her hands upon her ches

out of my apartments for the future!" retorted the exasperated girl, who, in truth to say,

er bosom, kissed it, and crossed herself, whil

ghtily, "and return to my maid, whom I will sen

am in the habit of consulting Sister Mildred, my dear old preceptress at the convent, upon all points, and I submitted Lord Winchester's c

u do so? This is worse and worse! Consult the nuns about yourselves and your own concerns; go

has to concern itself for the well-bein

terrupted Frances, vehemently, "you would have grasped at the offer-unsuitable to him

s ill-judged words that affected her-not even the irreverent allusion to her age-as the coupling her h

looking on Frances with compassion, "you would then know the terrible si

cks," retorted the young lady. "Why don't you attend to your priests, and your visitings, and you

hey never were without a "holy robe" in hand, inte

have done for your good. It is incumbent on us to stop this affair in the bud, rather than suffer you to become deeply attached to

be between me and Lord Winche

never m

ot ask you

she heard these words, and prayed for reforma

low who is not an angel," she continued, tapping the floor with her foot, lest Frances should mistak

been nurtured in the doctrines of the Romish faith, and even she, careless as she was of fulfilling the duties of her religion, owned to prejud

be saved if you willfully ally yourself with on

nces, trying to smother her sister's words, "by informing p

l of the answer of Sister Mildred," replied Miss Hild