"They are both totally spoiled, Miss Bedford," said Mrs Brandon, gazing fondly at her children; "and they're behindhand and tomboyish, and will give you no end of trouble. But you must rule them very strictly; and as they've not been quite so bad to-day, they may have tea with us this evening." The girls clapped their hands, and over that pleasant meal it seemed to Ella that she must have been there for months; while, when Mrs Brandon accompanied her to her bedroom that night--a snug pleasant chamber, with a fire, books, and a general aspect of comfort--and left her alone with the sense of the warm kiss on her lips--a friendly pressure on her hand, Ella sank upon her knees, and the tears would for a while flow--tears this time, though, of thankfulness for the refuge she had found. Two days of happiness had passed like a dream, in spite of sad thoughts and an undefined dread that all was too bright to last, when, seated in the drawing-room with Mrs Brandon, Ella's heart leaped, and then the blood seemed to rush to her heart, for the clangour of the hall bell proclaimed a visitor. The next minute the hard footman entered with a card upon a salver. "Gentleman wishes to see Miss Bedford," he said; and Ella with trembling hand took the card, to read thereon: "Mr Charles Vining, Blandfield Court." Volume 2, Chapter VII. MRS BRANDON'S RECEPTIONS. Mrs Brandon made no movement as the card was handed to Ella; but a look of firmness seemed imperceptibly to sweep across her pleasant matronly face, and one skilled in physiognomy would have said that she was waiting anxiously to see how the young girl would act, under what threatened to be very trying circumstances. Then, glancing at Ella, she saw her standing, pale as ashes, with the card in her hand. "Where have you shown the gentleman, Edward?" said Mrs Brandon. "Breakfast-room, ma'am," said the hard footman. "Very good; you need not wait," said Mrs Brandon; and the next moment they were alone, when, with pleading eyes, Ella held out the card. "Indeed, indeed, ma'am, I could not help this," she whispered. "I hoped that my retreat would not have been known." "My dear child," said Mrs Brandon kindly, "I do not blame you;" and she also rose and passed her arm round Ella's waist. "But you would like to see him?" "No, no, _no_!" cried Ella hastily. "I must not--I would rather not--it cannot be! I hoped to have been left here in peace, and free from persecution. I cannot see him; I must never see him again." "You wish, then, that Mr Charles Vining should be told that you decline to see him, and you beg he will not call again?" said Mrs Brandon softly, as she drew the fair girl nearer to her. "I would not willingly hurt him," said Ella hoarsely; "but I have told you all, and what else can I do? It can never be!"