"I tell you, mamma, you will live to dance at my wedding, if you could only keep off those hysterics. Would you have me accept two men at once? How can I take poor Tom Pynsent when I am engaged to another!" "Engaged to another, without asking my advice! Send instantly for Thompson: I am very ill." Her ladyship rang the bell violently. "You have killed me, and disgraced my reputation, Julia,--you have trifled with my kindness and affection--you have killed your mother!" The servant appeared, and Julia summoned the redoubted Thompson, who hurried to the scene of action. She beheld her lady in her usual state of agitation, when any thing disagreeable occurred. Julia was seated calmly by her side. Thompson applied her usual remedies, and entreated to hear what had distressed her lady's nerves. Every family affair was confided to the lady's-maid. "Your mistress, Thompson, is discomposed at the idea of my engagement to Lord Ennismore," replied Julia. "You know mamma has fits now, upon every fresh occurrence." Julia's words fell upon her mother's heart like the "Sweet south upon a bank of violets, Stealing and giving odour." She raised her head, and held out her hand to Julia. "My dear child, you have given me excessive pain most uselessly. Thompson, I am better; you always stifle me with those salts; take them away. Your obstinacy in refusing Mr. Pynsent and Hatton almost broke my heart. How could I be aware that you had secured Lord Ennismore, Julia? I never saw the least attention on his part, and I had arranged he was to propose hereafter to Clara. Well, I am much relieved. I really fancied you engaged to some horrid creature, like Leslie." "If you had listened to me, mamma, when I told you I had something to say, all this would have been spared." "My dear, how can people listen when they are in terror? I saw you parading before me as the wife of some common creature, and all my friends laughing at me--what horrid visions!--but now you will be a peeress, with the glory of having refused the first commoner in the county! My dear Julia, you have done extremely well; I am sorry Anna Maria has effected nothing; but I never saw Lord Ennismore offer you any attention--how did it all come about?" "You are the only blind person, then, mamma, for Lord Ennismore has been publicly attentive ever since he came to Wetheral. You must have noticed his manner last night." "No, my dear, that was Tom Pynsent." "Nonsense, mamma, it was Lord Ennismore. Every body saw his attentions; so would you, if you had not been running your head against Tom Pynsent. Lord Ennismore has written this morning to his mother to join him. He hopes she will be with us in a very few days. I told him not to say a word to papa yet, because I knew he objected to Lord Ennismore's health, but we shall soon nurse him into good care."