"Yes, they are very good; but I wanted you to stay, Clary. I had such plans for you. O, by the bye, the Grangers will be going back to-day, I suppose. Why should they not take you with them in their great travelling carriage?--Frederick, will you arrange for the Grangers to take Clarissa home?" cried Lady Laura to her husband, who was hovering near the door. In the midst of her grief my lady brightened a little; with the idea of managing something, even so small a matter as this. "Of course, my dear," replied the affectionate Fred. "Granger shall take Miss Lovel home. And now I must positively hurry her away; all this talk and excitement is so bad for you." "I must see the Fermors before they go. You'll let me see the Fermors, Fred?" "Well, well, I'll bring them just to say good-bye--that's all--Come along, Miss Lovel." Clarissa followed him through the corridor. "O, if you please, Mr. Armstrong," she said, "I did not like to worry Lady Laura, but I would so much rather go home alone in a fly." "Nonsense! the Grangers can take you. You could have Laura's brougham, of course; but if she wants you to go with the Grangers, you must go. Her word is law; and she's sure to ask me about it by-and-by. She's a wonderful woman; thinks of everything." They met Mr. and Miss Granger presently, dressed for the journey. "O, if you please, Granger, I want you to take Miss Lovel home in your carriage. You've plenty of 'room, I know." Sophia looked as if she would have liked to say that there was no room, but her father's face quite flushed with pleasure. "I shall be only too happy," he said, "if Miss Lovel will trust herself to our care." "And perhaps you'll explain to her father what has happened, and how sorry we are to lose her, and so on." "Certainly, my dear Armstrong. I shall make a point of seeing Mr. Lovel in order to do so." So Clarissa had a seat in Mr. Granger's luxurious carriage, the proprietor whereof sat opposite to her, admiring the pale patrician face, and wondering a little what that charm was which made it seem to him more beautiful than any other countenance he had ever looked upon. They did not talk much, Mr. Granger only making a few stereotyped remarks about the uncertainties of this life, or occasionally pointing out some feature of the landscape to Clarissa. The horses went at a splendid pace Their owner would have preferred a slower transit. "Remember, Miss Lovel," he said, as they approached the village of Arden, "you have promised to come and see us." "You are very good; but I go out so little, and papa is always averse to my visiting."