"On second thoughts," she continued, turning to the General, "I
fear I may have been a little hasty. Pardon me for troubling you
about it again--have you spoken to Michael yet? No? Then let us
err on the side of kindness; let us look over his misconduct this
time."

My uncle was evidently relieved. I seized the opportunity of
making my confession, and taking the whole blame on myself. Lady
Claudia stopped me with the perfect grace of which she was
mistress.

"My good child, don't distress yourself! don't make mountains out
of molehills!" She patted me on the cheek with two plump white
fingers which felt deadly cold. "I was not always prudent, Mina,
when I was your age. Besides, your curiosity is naturally excited
about a servant who is--what shall I call him?--a foundling."

She paused and fixed her eyes on me attentively. "What did he
tell you?" she asked. "Is it a very romantic story?"

The General began to fidget in his chair. If I had kept my
attention on him, I should have seen in his face a warning to me
to be silent. But my interest at the moment was absorbed in my
aunt. Encouraged by her amiable reception, I was not merely
unsuspicious of the trap that she had set for me--I was actually
foolish enough to think that I could improve Michael's position
in her estimation (remember that I was in love with him!) by
telling his story exactly as I have already told it in these
pages. I spoke with fervor. Will you believe it?--her humor