“I will leave you now,” said Helen. “Do, I see we shall like one another in time, Miss Stanley; in time,--I hate sudden friendships.” That evening Miss Clarendon questioned Helen more about her friendship with Cecilia, and how it was she came to live with her. Helen plainly told her. “Then it was not an original promise between you?” “Not at all,” said Helen. “Lady Cecilia told me it was. Just like her,--I knew all the time it was a lie.” Shocked and startled at the word, and at the idea, Helen exclaimed, “Oh! Miss Clarendon, how can you say so? anybody may be mistaken. Cecilia mistook--” Lady Cecilia joined them at this moment. Miss Clarendon’s face was flushed. “This room is insufferably hot. What can be the use of a fire at this time of year?” Cecilia said it was for her mother, who was apt to be chilly in the evenings; and as she spoke, she put a screen between the flushed cheek and the fire. Miss Clarendon pushed it away, saying, “I can’t talk, I can’t hear, I can’t understand with a screen before me. What did you say, Lady Cecilia, to Lady Davenant, as we came out from dinner, about Mr. Beauclerc?” “That we expect him to-morrow.” “You did not tell me so when you wrote!” “No, my dear.” “Why pray?” “I don’t know.” “You don’t know, Lady Cecilia! why should people say they do not know, when they do know perfectly well?” “If I had thought it was of any consequence to you, Esther,” said Cecilia, with an arch look---- “Now you expect me to answer that it was not of the least consequence to me--that is the answer you would make; but my answer is, that it was of consequence to me, and you knew it was.” “And if I did?” “If you did, why say ‘If I had thought it of any consequence to you?’--why say so? answer me truly.” “Answer me truly!” repeated Lady Cecilia, laughing. “Oh, my dear Esther, we are not in a court of justice.” “Nor in a court of honour,” pursued Miss Clarendon. “Well, well! let it be a court of love at least,” said Lady Cecilia. “What a pretty proverb that was, Helen, that we met with the other day in that book of old English proverbs--‘Love rules his kingdom without a sword.’” “Very likely; but to the point,” said Miss Clarendon, “when do you expect Mr. Beauclerc?” “To-morrow.” “Then I shall go to-morrow!” “My dear Esther, why?” “You know why; you know what reports have been spread; it suits neither my character nor my brother’s to give any foundation for such reports. Let me ring the bell and I will give my own orders.” “My dear Esther, but your brother will be so vexed--so surprised.” “My brother is the best judge of his own conduct, he will do what he pleases, or what you please. I am the judge of mine, and certainly shall do what I think right.” She rang accordingly, and ordered that her carriage should be at the door at six o’clock in the morning. “Nay, my dear Esther,” persisted Cecilia, “I wish you would not decide so suddenly; we were so glad to have you come to us--” “Glad! why you know--”