and his sister. These were Mr. Lyddell, a relation of Lady Arundel; and our former acquaintance, Edmund Arundel, in whom, young as he was, his uncle had placed full confidence. He had in fact been entirely brought up by Sir Edmund, and knew no other home than Fern Torr, having been sent thither an orphan in earliest childhood. His uncle and aunt had supplied the place of parents, and had been well rewarded for all they had done for him, by his consistent well doing and completely filial affection for them.
Marian was startled from her musings by his voice close at hand, saying, 'All alone, Marian?'
'Gerald is with Jemmy Wortley, somewhere,' she replied, 'and I begged Mrs. Wortley and Agnes to go down the village and leave me alone. I have been very busy all the morning, and my head feels quite confused with thoughts!'
'I am glad to have found you,' said Edmund. 'I have seen so little of you since I have been here.'
'Yes, you have been always with Mr. Lyddell. When does he go?'
'To-morrow morning.'
'And you stay longer, I hope?'
'Only till Monday; I wish it was possible to stay longer, but it is something to have a Sunday to spend here.'
'And then I am afraid it will be a long time before we see you again.'
'I hope not; if you are in London, it will be always easier to meet.'
'In London! Ah! that reminds me I wanted to ask you what I am to say to Selina Marchmont. I have a very kind letter from her, asking us to come to stay with her directly, and hoping that it may be arranged for us to live with them.'
'Ah! I have a letter from her husband to the same effect,' said Edmund. 'It really is very kind and friendly in them.'
'Exceedingly,' said Marian. 'Will you read her letter, and tell me how I am to answer her!'
'As to the visit, that depends upon what you like to do yourself. I should think that you would prefer staying with the Wortleys, since they are so kind as to receive you.'
'You don't mean,' exclaimed Marian, eagerly, 'staying with them for ever!'
Edmund shook his head. 'No, Marian, I fear that cannot be.'
'Then it is as I feared,' sighed Marian. 'I wonder how it is that I have thought so much about myself; but it would come into my head, what was to become of us, and I was very much afraid of living with the Lyddells; but still there was a little glimmering of hope that you might be able to manage to leave us with the Wortleys.'
'I heartily wish I could,' said Edmund, 'but it is out of my power. My uncle--'
'Surely papa did not wish us to live with the Lyddells?' cried Marian.
'I do not think he contemplated your living any where but at home.'
'But the Vicarage is more like home than any other place could ever be,' pleaded Marian, 'and papa did not like the Lyddells nearly so well as the Wortleys.'
'We must abide by his arrangements, rather than our own notions of his wishes,' said Edmund. 'Indeed, I know that he thought Mr. Lyddell a very sensible man.'
'Then poor Gerald is to grow up away from his own home, and never see the dear old moors! But if we cannot stay here, I had rather be with Selina. She is so fond of Gerald, and she knows what home was, and she
