“Ay, they are beautiful animals,” said Mr. Benson, following him; “bred here I believe; and then they are so well matched. I have been admiring them all the way. Do you ever drive them yourself? though _now_ I suppose Emmeline has taken the reins into her own hands—Eh, Lady Fitzhenry?” “This will never do,” thought Emmeline; her heart sank within her, and to put an end to the present trying moment, she proposed showing her mother her room; she trusted that her father’s exuberant spirits would before long vent themselves, and at any rate, separately, both she and Fitzhenry could better bear such attacks. So leaving her father and husband together, she went out of the room with Mrs. Benson. The house—her apartment—the view from the windows—the attentions of the old housekeeper who, in a rustling silk gown, came to make her reverence and offer her services, all delighted the latter. They had much to talk of, aunts, uncles, cousins to enquire after, and Emmeline’s spirits became more composed. At length, it was time to dress for dinner, and Emmeline retired to her own room. But when there, alone, her head sank on her hand; and a shiver of unhappiness—(I write only to those who have _hearts_, and to all such these sensations are but too well known)—the cold deserted shiver of unhappiness crept over her frame—”Oh! mine is a hard fate!” thought she, “to have eternally a part to act, a secret to conceal, with one, for one, whose heart is for ever closed to me.” The sight of her father and mother had revived all the affections and associations of Emmeline’s early youth; and, disappointed in all her dreams of happiness, the mad, the desperate thought of confessing her real situation, of leaving Fitzhenry and Arlingford for ever, and returning to her parents, crossed her mind. But a feeling which every day was gaining ground in her heart, almost unknown to herself, made her, the next minute, start with horror at the thought; and, almost terrified at the idea of the irretrievable step which in a moment of hopeless depression she might have been tempted to take, she resolved that she would keep her word with her husband, conceal and bear all, and trust to time and heaven.