He had not been long gone when there was a timid knock, and Miss Osborne entered with a book in her hand. Mr. Howard rose and placed a chair for her; but did not sit down himself. "I came to ask you if you would be so very good as to help me with this passage in Dante's _Inferno_," she said. He read it at once without any hesitation, as the portion indicated presented no special difficulty that he could see; and he was constrained to wonder wherefore she had selected it--the truth being that she had opened the volume at random. "I have just heard from Lady Osborne that Miss Watson is about to be married." In spite of himself, he was obliged to smile. "I regret that I have nothing to add to this thunderbolt!" "You are quite sure that she is to be married?" He was aware that she was watching him narrowly, and both his face and voice were entirely under control as he replied-- "I see no reason to doubt Mr. Musgrave's statement. He was just coming from the Rectory, and I know he was intimate with them." "He was altogether mad with her for refusing to dance with him at our ball--Fanny Carr told me so." Mr. Howard looked startled for a moment; and she proceeded-- "Fanny thought it showed a great want of breeding on her part to be so insolent to a guest of ours--she is not in a position to be disdainful of anyone--I should never think of calling her a lady." She received no answer to this. "Oh, I know you were vastly in love with her--I was quite expecting to have to congratulate you!"--with an attempt at archness. Mr. Howard contented himself with bowing. "I thought her rather handsome myself; but several gentlemen said to me that they did not at all think her anything out of the common." This again was received in silence; and Julia Osborne, considerably mortified, and perfectly aware of Lady Osborne's displeasure, should she learn of her adventure, thought it best to retire to her room. A few days later they were joined by Lord Edward Sothern, to whom Miss Osborne turned her attentions, and with much greater prospect of ultimate success. This, however, was not at all what she desired; but to inflict some gentle damage on an unimpressive heart, which she should presently be called upon to repair. In vain was the snare laid; and she was shortly engaged in a flirtation which obliged Lady Osborne to compel her to accept the proposal which speedily followed, and was urged with insistence. Julia Osborne was not a little incensed at the turn affairs had taken; and believing Mr. Howard to be the cause of all the mischief, felt that she had been barbarously used. Her resentment grew with reflection; and for a time nothing could appease her, although it was incumbent on her to dissemble her feelings. All this, however, had the salutary effect of estranging her from the first object of her affections; and by degrees the good-humour and attentions of her lover reconciled her to the hardship of her fate. CHAPTER XIII