and unhappy; therefore, as gloomy thoughts sweep like shadows across her mind, the tears gather in her eyes, as she leans her head upon the marble chimney-piece, and sorrows all alone in the deepening twilight. “And this is the day I thought I was to have been so happy,” thinks poor Blanche--“the day I have been looking forward to ever since we heard Charlie was coming home. Ah! I wish I could meet him now as I used to do in the happy days when we knew nothing about marrying and money and family arrangements. And poor Charlie, after all his sufferings!--Uncle Baldwin says it will break his heart if I don’t marry him. And dear mamma, if she had lived, she would have been so glad to see it all settled! And so I suppose it _must_ be; and then Mr. Hardingstone will very likely marry _her_, and everybody will be happy and contented but _me_. Ah! well, there must always be some one sacrificed; and I suppose I must be the victim this time; but it _is_ hard to give up all my hope, all my sunshine--to have no future any more. Yes; I hear the autumn wind sighing round the house. I am not yet twenty; and it will be all autumn to me for the rest of my life. Oh, it _is_ hard--very hard!” and Blanche pressed her brow against the chimney-piece and wept bitterly. “Blanche, dearest Blanche, what is it?” whispered a gentle voice close beside her, and she felt Mary Delaval’s arm passed caressingly round her waist. Blanche started up, and checked her tears. She could have borne anything but this. She could not endure to be consoled by her triumphant rival. “Nothing,” she replied, withdrawing herself almost rudely from the encircling arm--“nothing; I’m only tired and nervous, waiting for these people. I think I’ll go and dress, for it’s getting late; and--I think--I think I’ll go by myself, Mrs. Delaval,” said Blanche; and she hurried away, leaving Mary surprised and hurt at the first unkind words she had ever heard from Blanche’s lips. “Anything but that,” said the girl as she walked up-stairs, swelling with indignation; “anything but that _she_ should come and _triumph_ over me.” And she banged her door angrily; and Mary, in the drawing-room, heard it, and was grieved.