Lady Darrell was generosity itself! In her quiet, amiable way she liked Miss Hastings as well as she was capable of liking any one. She insisted upon making all kinds of arrangements for the governess--she was to have every comfort, every luxury. "And you must do nothing," she said, in her most caressing manner, "but try to get well. I shall expect to see you looking quite young and blooming when you return." Lady Darrell had already written to Omberleigh, and, through an agent there, had secured beautiful apartments. When Miss Hastings half remonstrated with her, she laughed. "I have nothing to do," she said, "but make every one happy; and it is my duty to find you always a comfortable home." Lady Darrell looked, as she was in those days, a most happy woman. She seemed to have grown younger and fairer. The height of her ambition, the height of her happiness, was reached at last. She was rich in the world's goods, and it was in her power to make the man she loved rich and powerful too. She was, for the first time in her life, pleasing her own heart; and happiness made her more tender, more amiable, more considerate and thoughtful for others. Lady Hampton mourned over the great mistake her niece was making. She had whispered in confidence to all her dear friends that Elinor was really going to throw herself away on the captain after all. It was such a pity, she said, when Lord Aynsley was so deeply in love with her. "But then," she concluded, with a sigh, "it is a matter in which I cannot interfere." Yet, looking at Lady Darrell's bright, happy face, she could not quite regret the captain's existence. "You will not be lonely, Lady Darrell," said Miss Hastings, the evening before her journey. She never forgot the light that spread over the fair young face--the intense happiness that shone in the blue eyes. "No," she returned, with a sigh of unutterable content, "I shall never be lonely again. I have thoughts and memories that keep my heart warm--all loneliness or sorrow is over for me." On the morrow Miss Darrell and the governess were to go to Omberleigh, but the same night Lady Darrell went to Pauline's room. "I hope you will excuse me," she said, when the girl looked up in haughty surprise. "I want to say a few words to you before you go." The cool, formal terms on which they lived were set aside, and for the first time Lady Darrell visited Pauline in her room. "I want to ask you one great favor," continued Lady Darrell. "Will you promise me that Miss Hastings shall not want for anything? She is far from strong." "I shall consider Miss Hastings my own especial charge," said Pauline. "But you must allow me to help you. I have a very great affection for her, and desire nothing better than to prove it by kind actions." "Miss Hastings would be very grateful to you if she knew it," said Pauline.