'Do you know anything?' said Clara.
'I do know.'
'Ah! you are in all Caroline's secrets now, and that is very odd; you who used to hate the Faulkners. Well, but are not you coming down?'
In spite of his cock-crowings, Lionel was very anxious, and when in the course of that long desultory forlorn morning he was left alone with Marian, he earnestly asked her what she knew. 'Nothing' was her answer.
'O if Caroline will but hold out!' he exclaimed, 'that will be what I call being good for something! I hope mamma won't be desperately angry, for that I could stand less than anything, it goes on so much longer with her than with papa.'
'She will be very much disappointed. O how I wish I knew what is happening!'
It was a long time before any intelligence could be gained: Mrs. Lyddell was very much flushed, and looked extremely displeased when she came down, hardly speaking to any one but Lionel, and glancing most sternly at Marian, Caroline did not come down at all, and when Marian was going up stairs after luncheon, Mrs. Lyddell said with extreme coldness, 'Do not go to Caroline, if you please, I wish her to be left quiet.'
Marian was in great consternation, since it was evident that Mrs. Lyddell perceived how her influence had been exerted, and was very much offended, indeed it was no wonder that she should be. Nothing but 'very well' could be said so she quietly prepared to go out. Lionel had his brother this afternoon and did not want her, so she had only Clara for her companion full of surmises and of excitement. When she came in and was on her way to her room, Caroline opened her door. 'Marian! O will you not come to me?' cried she imploringly.
Marian could not but comply, indeed she had no hesitation, for she thought Mrs. Lyddell's injunction only applied to the time before she went out.
'O, cheer me up, comfort me, Marian!' said Caroline, drawing her cousin's arm round her waist, 'I do want it so much!'
'You are going on bravely then!' said Marian, caressing her.
'Bravely!' sighed Caroline; 'No, indeed, but I have held firmly so far! I could not but stand by poor Walter, you know, when he confronted it all for me! I could not say much--I could only cry--but I took care they should not think I consented again.'
'And is Mrs. Lyddell very much displeased?'
'O, don't speak of it, Marian. I cannot bear it.'
The door opened and Mrs. Lyddell entered, and the air of indignant surprise on seeing Marian called for an answer: 'I beg your pardon, I thought you only meant me not to go to Caroline just after luncheon,' said Marian.
'I wish matters, such as we have been discussing, to be confined entirely to our own family,' replied Mrs. Lyddell, too angry not to say something, yet too much afraid of Marian not to say it very courteously.
'Mamma!' said Caroline eagerly, 'only hear me. I assure you that not one word did Marian ever say to me till I voluntarily went to her a week ago, because I was so very miserable I could bear it no longer.'
'I should have thought your mother the proper person to go to in such a case. Miss Arundel's sentiments had so long been visible, that you could have no doubt of the advice you would receive from her.'
'Mrs. Lyddell,' said Marian, collecting herself, and speaking slowly, 'I am very sorry I have appeared to act a part which I know must seem unjustifiable. I never spoke to--to Caroline' (the remembrance of Lionel prevented her from saying to any one) 'of my opinion of this engagement, after it was formed, till she came to me for advice, in her distress. I could not speak against my conscience, and I tried not to forget what was due to you. I only begged her to write to her brother as the fittest person to help her, as being a clergyman. I beg your pardon for having acted against your wishes.' So saying, Marian went out, surprised and alarmed at finding herself in open opposition to Mrs. Lyddell, and
