She put off the expectation of much enjoyment till Lady Marchmont should come, and her arrival took place unusually late that season. She had not been well, and little Willie had been somewhat ailing; so that the bringing him into London air was put off as long as possible. It was not till the latter part of May that she came, as she had always promised to do, in time for Marian's presentation at court, on which both she and Mrs. Lyddell were bent; and Marian ready to endure it, by the help of a few romantic thoughts of loyalty. The day after Lady Marchmont arrived, she called at Mrs. Lyddell's and came in, as she generally did once in a year. After her visit was over, she asked Marian to come and take a drive, and no sooner where they in the carriage, than she exclaimed, "A nice looking girl, that Miss Lyddell! Is she the one who is to marry Mr. Faulkner?" "O, Selina! how could you have heard such nonsense?" "What, is it to be denied? It is not settled, then?" "No, nor ever will be." "Why, surely the man has been spending months at Oakworthy." "Only weeks; besides, he was buying a house." "A very proper preliminary to a wife." "O, no, no it is impossible!" "But why? Perhaps you know some good reason to the contrary; for I heard he admired you very much when he met you last year." "Don't say such things, Selina. How could you fancy it possible, after all the horrid things Lord Marchmont said of him!" "What is impossible, my dear? That he should think you very handsome?" "Don't, Selina, pray don't! That any body good for any thing should ever marry him!" "Any body good for any thing!" repeated Selina. "Well, granted,--and it is a considerable grant,--does that make the supposition out of the question?" "Yes, as regards Caroline. O, Selina! you do not know Caroline, or you would not look so incredulous!" "Time will show," said Lady Marchmont, gaily. "I reserve to myself the satisfaction of having known it beforehand." "It never will be," said Marian. "And how is little Willie?" "Very well, poor little man, if he would only grow, but he is so small, that I am fairly ashamed to show such a hop-o'-my-thumb. But he is coming out quite a genius; he reads as well as I do, and makes the wisest speeches." And the history of his wise speeches occupied them for some time, with other matters, until just as their drive was nearly concluded, Selina exclaimed, "But all this time I have never asked you if you can throw any light on this extraordinary step of Edmund Arundel's?" "What do you mean?" cried Marian. "Have you not heard that he has exchanged, and is coming home? The most foolish thing,--just as he might have been sure of promotion. It is not likely to be health, for the climate agreed very well with him." "Yes," assented Marian, wrapt in her own thoughts; "but did he write to you?"