The party then separated; Mistress Nutter shaping her course towards the window where Alizon and the two other young people were seated, while Potts, plucking the squire's sleeve, said, with a very mysterious look, that he desired a word with him in private. Wondering what could be the nature of the communication the attorney desired to make, Nicholas withdrew with him into a corner, and Nowell, who saw them retire, and could not help watching them with some curiosity, remarked that the squire's hilarious countenance fell as he listened to the attorney, while, on the contrary, the features of the latter gleamed with malicious satisfaction. Meanwhile, Mistress Nutter approached Alizon, and beckoning her towards her, they quitted the room together. As the young girl went forth, she cast a wistful look at Dorothy and her brother. "You think with me, that that lovely girl is well born?" said Dorothy, as Alizon disappeared. "It were heresy to doubt it," answered Richard. "Shall I tell you another secret?" she continued, regarding him fixedly--"if, indeed, it be a secret, for you must be sadly wanting in discernment if you have not found it out ere this. She loves you." "Dorothy!" exclaimed Richard. "I am sure of it," she rejoined. "But I would not tell you this, if I were not quite equally sure that you love her in return." "On my faith, Dorothy, you give yourself credit for wonderful penetration," cried Richard. "Not a whit more than I am entitled to," she answered. "Nay, it will not do to attempt concealment with me. If I had not been certain of the matter before, your manner now would convince me. I am very glad of it. She will make a charming sister, and I shall he very fond of her." "How you do run on, madcap!" cried her brother, trying to look displeased, but totally failing in assuming the expression. "Stranger things have come to pass," said Dorothy; "and one reads in story-hooks of young nobles marrying village maidens in spite of parental opposition. I dare say you will get nobody's consent to the marriage but mine, Richard." "I dare say not," he replied, rather blankly. "That is, if she should not turn out to be somebody's daughter," pursued Dorothy; "somebody, I mean, quite as great as the heir of Middleton, which I make no doubt she will." "I hope she may," replied Richard. "Why, you don't mean to say you wouldn't marry her if she didn't!" cried Dorothy. "I'm ashamed of you, Richard." "It would remove all opposition, at all events," said her brother. "So it would," said Dorothy; "and now I'll tell you another notion of mine, Richard. Somehow or other, it has come into my head that Alizon is the daughter of--whom do you think?" "Whom!" he cried. "Guess," she rejoined. "I can't," he exclaimed, impatiently. "Well, then, I'll tell you without more ado," she answered. "Mind, it's only my notion, and I've no precise grounds for it. But, in my opinion, she's the daughter of the lady who has just left the room."