should have been most lonely but for her, and I--I am very much attached
to her."

"Quite natural and quite right," said Lady Ridsdale. "You wish, of
course, to make her a very handsome present?"

"No, not quite that," said Marion, looking very uncomfortable; "it is
much worse than that. I thought I should be all alone, and I promised
that when I left Miss Carleton's she should go with me as my companion,
and should live with me."

Lady Ridsdale looked very grave.

"I do not think it possible, my dear," she replied. "Lord Ridsdale has
the greatest objection to that kind of thing. Will you not try if you
shall like me as a companion?"

"I am quite sure to do that," she said; "but I made the promise. What
shall I do?"

"You made it under a certain set of circumstances," said Lady Ridsdale
"and they no longer exist. You may, I think, in all honor, defer the
keeping of it, until you have a house of your own."

But Marion still looked as she felt--uncomfortable. Lord Ridsdale had
gone to superintend some arrangements for their departure, leaving the
two ladies alone.

"You think the young person will be disappointed?" said Lady Ridsdale,
kindly.