where she was adored, on purpose to tend Lady Jane in sickness and
obscurity!

Without being put exactly into these words, or, perhaps, into any words,
thoughts such as these, with feelings of gratitude and affection, revived
for Caroline in Lady Jane's mind the moment she heard of Alfred's intended
marriage.

"Good young man!--Excellent friend!--Well, tell me all About it, _my
dear_."

It was the first time that her ladyship had said _my dear_ to Caroline
since the day of the fatal refusal.

Caroline was touched by this word of reconciliation--and the tears it
brought into her eyes completely overcame Lady Jane, who hastily wiped her
own.

"So, my dear Caroline--where were we? Tell me about your brother's
marriage--when is it to be?--How has it been brought about?--The last I
heard of the Leicesters was the good dean's death--I remember pitying them
very much--Were they not left in straitened circumstances, too? Will
Alfred have any fortune with Miss Leicester?--Tell me every thing--read me
his letters."

To go back to Dr. Leicester's death. For some months his preferments were
kept in abeyance. Many were named, or thought of, as likely to succeed him.
The deanery was in the gift of the crown, and as it was imagined that the
vicarage was also at the disposal of government, applications had poured
in, on all sides, for friends, and friends' friends, to the remotest link