"Oh, yes, quite! I am much better, I shall be able to go to the Veseys on Thursday, Mr. Gage, which is the extent of my ambition at present." Mr. Gage rather wondered whether she had sent for him into her own particular sitting-room to talk to him about the Veseys; but he merely remarked that he was going into Devonshire on that day, or he believed he should have joined their party, as Mrs. Vesey had been so polite as to ask him. "Ah! so I hear," said Harriet, in a friendly tone. "How dull poor Chirke Weston will look, now they are all away." "Dull enough," said Mr. Gage; and he sighed, thinking of his sister, and all the troubles she had gone through. "I have not heard from Bessy, I don't know when," said Harriet. "Nor I," said Mr. Gage. "I imagine she has not much to say." "And writing is such a bore," said Harriet. "A great bore," said Mr. Gage. "I will tell you who writes a great number of letters," said Harriet. "My brother, Evan." "And really clever ones," replied Mr. Gage. "No! Does he ever write to you?" exclaimed Harriet. "Now and then," said Mr. Gage. "I think he writes to Hubert more than to any of us." The conversation had been very placid hitherto: Margaret hardly thought it could last. There was a short pause; during which Harriet sat playing with her rings. It was such an unusual thing for Harriet to appear constrained in her manner to any one, that Mr. Gage was considerably puzzled. Although by no means addicted to holding himself in low estimation, he did not suppose that Harriet had sent for him to make a pathetic declaration; more particularly as Margaret was present, and did not appear likely to leave the room. "Well, Mr. Gage," said Harriet, looking up, "I heard something this morning which surprised me very much." "Really!" said Mr. Gage, bending forwards; "I trust, nothing of an unpleasant nature?" "Oh, yes! I was displeased too," said Harriet. "Can I be of any service?" asked Mr. Gage, very civilly. "Oh, dear me, George, no!" said Harriet, suddenly. "The thing is past mending. Your plague of a groom has been making love to my Charlotte, and married her this morning." Mr. Gage never swore before ladies; though he had seldom felt more inclined to relieve his mind by that simple process. But after the angry pause of a minute, he ejaculated, with raised eyebrows, the words, "Highly impertinent!" "And so ridiculous--so imprudent!" said Harriet; "how are they to live, I wonder?" "Oh! Heaven knows how they are to live," said Mr. Gage, drawing his chair wonderfully near to Harriet; "that is their affair--not ours, you know." "Our affair!" How odd the words sounded. Harriet blushed. "I am so sorry about Charlotte," she said; "she does know how to dress hair!" Mr. Gage cast an admiring glance upon Harriet's shining tresses, and added: "I am sorry, too, to lose Thompson. He understands his business very well." "It is very provoking. Such things are the last extent of folly," said Harriet.