sarcastically, "it will not be proper at all for you to go with him."

"But I promised I would," said Fanny.

"That you can easily remedy," answered Mrs. Carrington. "Just write him a
note and I will send it to him."

Thus beset, poor Fanny sat down and wrote, as Mrs. Carrington dictated,
the following note:



"DR. LACEY:

"SIR—Upon further reflection I think it proper to decline your polite
invitation for tonight.

"Yours very respectfully,

"FANNY MIDDLETON."



"That will do," said Mrs. Carrington; and ringing the bell, she dispatched
a servant to carry the note to Dr. Lacey.

"You are a good girl to submit so readily," said Mrs. Carrington, laying
her white hand on Fanny’s head. But Fanny’s eyes were full of tears, and
she did not answer; and Mrs. Carrington, sure of Dr. Lacey’s attendance
that evening, left the room exulting in the result of her plan. In a short