Maria lifted her sweet face, an earnest look upon it. "It was not the cold papa thought of, Lady Godolphin: he knows I am too hardy to fear that. But, as winter approaches, there is so much more to do, both at home and abroad. Mamma has to be out a great deal: and this will be a heavy winter with the poor, after all the sickness." "The sickness has passed," exclaimed Lady Godolphin, in a tone so sharp, so eager, as to give rise to a suspicion that she might fear, or had feared, the sickness for herself. "Nearly so," assented Miss Godolphin. "There have been no fresh cases since----" "Janet, if you talk of 'fresh cases' at my table, I shall retire from it," interrupted Lady Godolphin in agitation. "Is fever a pleasant or fitting topic of conversation, pray?" Janet Godolphin bowed her head. "I did not forget your fears, madam. I supposed, however, that, now that the sickness is subsiding, your objection to hearing it spoken of might have subsided also." "And how did the controversy with Mr. Hastings end?" interposed Bessy, to turn the topic. "Is Maria to go?" "Of course she is to go," said Lady Godolphin, with a quiet little laugh of power, as she recovered her good-humour. "When I wish a thing, I generally carry my point. I would not stir from his room until he gave his consent, and he had his sermon on the table, and was no doubt wishing me at the antipodes. He thought Maria had already paid me a visit long enough for Sir George to have grown tired of her, he said. I told him that it was not his business: and that whether Sir George or any one else was tired of her, I should take her to Scotland. So he yielded." Maria Hastings glanced timidly at Sir George. He saw the look. "Not tired of you yet, are we, Miss Hastings?" he said, with, Maria fancied, more gallantry than warmth. But fancy, with Maria, sometimes went a great way. "It would have been a disappointment to Maria," pursued Lady Godolphin. "Would it not, my dear?" "Yes," she answered, her face flushing. "And so very dull for Charlotte Pain. I expressly told her when I invited her that Maria Hastings would be of the party." "Charlotte Pain!" echoed Bessy Godolphin, in her quick way; "is she going with you? What in the world is that for?" "I invited her, I say," said Lady Godolphin, with a hard look on her bloom-tinted face: a look that it always wore when her wishes were questioned, her actions reflected on. None brooked interference less than Lady Godolphin. Sir George bent his head slightly towards his wife. "My dear, I considered that Charlotte Pain invited herself. She fished pretty strongly for the invitation, and you fell into the snare." "Snare! It is an honour and a pleasure that she should come with us. What do you mean, Sir George?" "An honour, if you like to call it so; I am sure it will be a pleasure," replied Sir George. "A most attractive young woman is Charlotte Pain: though she did angle for the invitation. George, take care how you play your cards."