"My dear love, my lord is inquiring for you: he feels better, much better, but I have decided upon sending for Dr. Anstruther. He wishes you to sit with him; he inquires for Julia upon all occasions, and I am now come for you. My son is full of regrets," added her ladyship, turning towards her guests, "that he should feel one of his little seizures at this particular moment, when he wished to do the honours of Bedinfield; but he deputes me to act for him. He has insisted upon my ordering the _barouchette_, to drive Miss Wetheral and yourself to the plantations. My dear son will hope to be perfectly well at dinner: he is quite nervous about the plantations." Sir John appeared too engrossed with his own emotions to reply; but he bowed to her ladyship's speech. She turned to Christobelle. "My dear young friend, we shall return to luncheon, therefore, as my daughter remains with her husband, you will, probably, be glad to accompany us in our drive. We shall set out in half an hour." Christobelle promised herself little pleasure in the drive, since Julia would not be with them, but she would prepare to attend her ladyship's summons. The two ladies then proceeded towards the hall. Julia looked back at her father, as he seated himself near Christobelle, and smiled. "Papa, I shall find out about the letters from Lady Ennismore. I am sure Penelope is wrong!" "What is this little affair, Julia?" asked Lady Ennismore, with peculiar quickness. "My friends say they have received no letters from Bedinfield, my dear mother. _You_ know I wrote, for you were kind enough to seal my long crossed epistles. You told me they would serve me so!" "I have often known fluctuations in correspondence among young people, my love. I used to fancy in my youth that I was particularly ill-used; but, when I look back, I perceive it was circumstances which over-ruled many events." Lady Ennismore continued speaking to Julia, but the distance prevented the substance of her remarks reaching her friends. Before the speech concluded, however, they had gained the door, which Lady Ennismore closed after their transit, and the subject was never more renewed. A heavy sigh from her father arrested Christobelle's attention. She asked him if he was ill. "Not in body, my dear child: my mind alone is wretched." "Oh, why, papa?" she exclaimed, in surprise; "what makes you wretched in this beautiful place of Julia's? and Julia herself so well and happy!" "There is no happiness with that dangerous woman, and that feeble son!" said her father, as he paced the room. "There is no peace for my poor child--ignorance, ignorance is her only earthly chance! Why was I so weak, so deluded, to marry my poor child to a wretched idiot?" "Papa," Christobelle uttered gently--"dear papa, who are you meaning?" He did not hear her speak; her father apparently forgot her presence, for he continued walking.