"You may think so," replied Lady M--, "but it is my conviction that all is owing to their being so tastefully-dressed. Why every one admires the elegance of their costume, and requests patterns. Well, now I have only Amy on my hands, and I think that her sister's high connections will assist in getting her off." "She is a sweet girl, Amy," replied I, "and were I you Lady M--, I should be in no hurry to part with her." "Indeed, but I am," replied Lady M--, "you don't know the expense of girls, and my jointure is not so very large; however, I must not complain. Don't you think Amy looks better in lilac than any other colour?" "She looks well in almost any colour," replied I. "Yes, with your taste, I grant," replied Lady M--. "Are you aware that we go to town in a fortnight? We must look after the _trousseaux_. It was arranged last night that both marriages shall take place in February. Amy will, of course be one of the brides'-maids, and I trust to you, my dear Mademoiselle de Chatenoeuf, to invent something very _distingue_ for her on that occasion. Who knows but that it may get her off? but it's late, so good-night." I could not admire Lady M--'s apparent hurry to get rid of her daughters, but it certainly was the one thing needful which had occupied all her thoughts and attention during the time that I had been with her. That it was natural she should wish that her children were well established, I granted, but all that she appeared to consider was good connection, and the means of living in good style, every other point as to the character of the husbands being totally overlooked. A fortnight after Christmas we all went to London, and were, as Lady M-- had observed, very busy with the _trousseaux_, when one day the butler came to say that a young gentleman wished to see me, and was waiting in the breakfast parlour below. I went down, wondering who it could be, when to my surprise, I found Lionel, the page of Lady R--, dressed in plain clothes, and certainly looking very much like a gentleman. He bowed very respectfully to me when he entered, much more so than he had ever done when he was a page with Lady R--, and said, "Miss Valerie, I have ventured to call upon you, as I thought when we parted, that you did me the honour to feel some little interest about me, and I thought you would like to know what has taken place. I have been in England now four months, and have not been idle during that time." "I am certainly glad to see you, Lionel, although I am sorry you have left Lady R--, and I hope you have been satisfied with the result of your inquiries." "It is rather a long story, Miss Valerie, and, if you wish to hear it, you will oblige me by sitting down while I narrate it to you." "I hope it will not be too long, Lionel, as I shall be wanted in an hour or so, to go out with Lady M--, but I am ready to hear you," continued I, sitting down as he requested.