"You must still have patience--patience only for a few months--three short months,--and the result of all this suspense--the end of all this anxiety, will be no doubt as advantageous--as immensely important and beneficial--as we are led to believe." "True: we are bound to believe a man who seems so serious in all his actions with regard to me," said the lady, after a short pause, during which she seemed to be wrapped up in a deep reverie. "But why does he keep me in the dark with regard to the true nature of that grand result? Why does he not trust me, who have placed such unbounded, such implicit confidence in him?" "He is afraid lest an unguarded moment on your part should betray what he assures us to be of the most vital--the last importance," answered the domestic, in a kindly remonstrative tone. "And really, my dearest girl," she added, affectionately,--"pardon me for calling you so----" "Ah! Louisa, you are my dearest friend!" said the lady energetically. "You, and you alone, have supported my courage during the four years and a half that this horrible deceit has already lasted; your kindness----" "I have only done my duty, and acted as my heart dictated," mildly replied the female dependant. "But as I was observing, you are so very imprudent, as it is; and can you expect that Mr. Stephens will reveal to you the minute details of a scheme, which----" "Imprudent!" hastily exclaimed the lady: "how am I imprudent? Do I not follow all _his_ directions--all _your_ advice? Have I not even learned to talk to the very groom in his own language about the horses and the dogs? and do I not scamper across the country, upon my chestnut mare, with him following upon the bay horse at my heels, as if we were both mad? And then you say that I am imprudent, when I have done all I can to sustain the character which I have assumed? And with the exception of these rides, how seldom do I go abroad? Half-a-dozen names include all my acquaintances: and no one--no one ever comes here! This is, indeed, a hermit's dwelling! How can you say that I am imprudent?" "Without going out of this very room," began Louisa, with a smile, "I could----"