"No," said Margaret, "happily I was not wanted." "I could not fancy Margaret acting," said Mrs. Fitzpatrick. "Nor I!" said Mr. Haveloc, suddenly. Margaret blushed, and kept her eyes fixed on the book without distinguishing a word. "Where am I, Margaret?" asked Harriet. "What do I say next?" Margaret had lost the place, and now her fingers trembled so much, she could not find it. Mrs. Fitzpatrick laughed at her. Mr. Gage took the book, and gave Harriet the cue. At last the actors came to a conclusion. They dispersed about the room. Harriet and Miss Campbell were drinking coffee, and declaring themselves parched with thirst. The officer brought himself and his coffee cup to Margaret's chair, "and hoped she had been amused, and trusted he should presently hear her sing; and begged that she would not laugh at him when he acted on Monday." Those who knew her well, could have detected beneath the passive civility of her manner, that she was very little disposed to laugh at him, for there was something in the texture of her mind that made common people exceedingly repulsive to her, and a coarser piece of Dowlas than this officer seldom issued, even out of a barrack. The chords of the harp were now heard from the adjoining drawing-room. Miss Campbell was performing a fantasia. Harriet came into the library snapping her fan, and looking discomposed. "She is a fixture," said Mrs. Gage, pointing with her fan in the direction of the sounds; "it is so vexatious, for I had set my mind on Margaret singing the scene from 'Der Freischutz.'" Lucy, to whom this speech was addressed, laughed; and Margaret, escaping from the officer, joined them, and learned the cause of offence. "My dear Harriet," said Margaret, "I will sing to you at any time. Do forgive Miss Campbell." "I will not, she does it on purpose, it is managed between her and Lady James, to keep you from the piano. How I detest red hair!" Margaret laughed: "Do not detest it in the present instance, while it is connected with so charming a voice. If I had been quite--well--last night, how I should have enjoyed that romance of Schubert's." There was something in her voice, her slight hesitation, that was very touching. Harriet caught her hands in hers. "Is she not, Lucy?" "That she is, indeed," said Lady Raymond, affectionately. "Is--what?" said Margaret, looking frightened. "Is a very dear little creature," said Harriet, turning away. "I think you have quite made a conquest of Captain Smithson," said Lucy, smiling. Margaret shuddered. "Oh! you shall not have him, if you don't wish it," said Lady Raymond; "come and sit by me, until Miss Campbell has done singing. Is that you, Mr. Haveloc? Tell us something to amuse us. Is it true that there is a ghost at Tynebrook?" Mr. Haveloc started, drew a chair near Lady Raymond's, and sat down:--"A decided ghost, and no end of mysterious sounds and footsteps." "Indeed! I hope Raymond will hear some to-morrow night. Ah!"