is best to be done."

"May I give your ladyship one piece of advice?" said the lawyer. "Have
the papers--yesterday's and today's--destroyed, so that no rumor of
anything amiss can reach your servants; also say nothing of it--it may
possibly die away, as some rumors do. Your visitors and friends will not
broach such a subject to you, I am sure."

"I shall not mention it," she replied; "although Marion will be sure to
suspect something wrong." At that moment the last dressing-bell rang.

"You will join us in a few minutes," said Lady Carruthers; "never mind
your traveling-dress; Miss Hautville and I are quite alone."

No one who saw Lady Carruthers leave the library with stately step and
dignified air, would have believed that she had received a blow which
laid her life and all her hopes in ruins--as the lightning smites the
lofty oak. She went back to her sumptuous bedroom that she had left half
an hour ago, so calm and serene, so unconscious of coming evil. Looking
in the mirror, she saw her face was deadly pale--there was no trace of
color left on it, and deep lines had come on her brow that had been so
calm.

"It will not do to look so pale," said Lady Carruthers; and from one of
the mysterious little drawers she took a small powder puff that soon
remedied the evil.

Then she went to the dining-room. Miss Hautville and Mr. Forster were
talking together like old acquaintances, and the three sat down to
dinner together.