their loss was more intense than it had ever been. Gradually, 'the turbid waters brightening as they ran,' became soothing, as she dwelt on the sweet, holy memory of her parents, and wholesome as she mourned over her fit of pride and anger. But for what were they accountable, whose selfish weakness and thoughtless curiosity had caused the orphan's tears to flow?
Caroline had not seen those flashing eyes without an instant perception of the injustice of the accusation. Her half-jesting speech had led the matter much further than she had intended; and alarmed at the consequences, she ran after her cousin to entreat her pardon; but Marian, unconscious of all save the tumult within herself, hurried on too fast to be overtaken, and just as Caroline reached her door, had shut it fast, and drawn the bolt, and a gentle knock and low call of 'Marian, dear Marian,' were lost in the first burst of sobs. Caroline, baffled and offended, turned away with feelings even more painful than hers; and too proud to repeat the call, walked up and down, waiting till the door should be opened, to assure her cousin that nothing should induce her to touch the letter, and to beg her forgiveness; but as minutes passed away in silence, she grew tired of waiting, thought Marian sullen and passionate, and at length, returned to the schoolroom. As soon as she entered, Clara exclaimed, 'O Caroline, only think, how odd--'
'I don't want to hear anything about it,' said Caroline, sitting down to the piano; 'I wish we had never thought of it.'
She began, playing with all her might, but gradually she abated her vehemence, as she caught a few sounds of a conversation between Clara and Miss Morley. At last she turned round, asking, 'What? who is his godfather?'
'Mr. Arundel, 'Edmund and every body,' you know,' answered Clara. 'I never heard anything like it. Only fancy his hearing that boy say his catechism!'
'What? I don't understand,' said Caroline; 'Mr. Arundel and Gerald! Nonsense! He can't be his godfather. Mamma said he was only four-and-twenty, and Gerald is almost nine.'
'Here is Marian's authority for it,' said Clara; 'and certainly those Arundels are a curious family.'
'Mr. Arundel is the next heir, is he not?' inquired Miss Morley.
'Yes,' said Caroline; 'I heard mamma telling old Mrs. Graves the whole story. His father and mother both died when he was very young, and Sir Edmund brought him up entirely, and every one looked upon him as the heir till Gerald was born; and a groat disappointment it must have been, for now he has next to nothing. But they all were just as fond of each other as before; and it does seem very strange that Sir Edmund should have made him their guardian, at his age, when there was Lord Marchmont, who is their cousin, too.'
'I dare say,' said Clara, as if a most brilliant thought had struck her, 'I dare say there is a family compact, such as one reads of in books, that he is to marry Marian.'
'My dear Clara!' said Miss Morley laughing, 'How should such a notion come into your little head?'
'Now see if it is not so!' said Clara; 'I do believe she is in love with him already, and he is coming to see her.'
'Is he?' cried Caroline, 'I am very curious to sec him. Mamma says he is very handsome, and quite a distinguished looking person. When does he come?'
'You had better read,' said Clara; 'I can tell you that there are wonderful things in the letter.'
Curiosity again asserted its power, and Caroline yielded. The letter had been opened, and it would not signify if one more person looked at it. She took it, and read eagerly and stealthily, starting at every sound.
'My dear Agnes--I hope you and Jemmy are getting on well in your solitude without the schoolboys. Tell Charles, when you write, that a gentleman staying here caught a trout last week that weighed three pounds, but I believe that those which are caught in these rivers taste of mud, and are not nearly so good as our own. I was very much afraid that Gerald would go to school this summer, but now Mrs. Lyddell has heard that it was settled that he should not go till he was ten, and it is arranged for him to
