"I should imagine that my guardian did not know what to do with me," she replied, with a smile so bright and sweet that Lord Ridsdale at once fell in love with her, as his wife had done before him.
"Where am I going to live?" asked Marion, after they had been talking for some time.
"We are going to Thorpe Castle," replied Lady Ridsdale, "and I thought you would enjoy being there with us."
"I shall enjoy anything and everything" said Marion. "I have all my life before me, and it will be full of glorious possibilities."
Suddenly she paused, remembering that her life was settled and arranged; it held no more possibilities; they were all at an end. For the first time she felt the weight of the chain that bound her. Lady Ridsdale wondered why the beautiful face suddenly grew pale and grave.
Half an hour afterwards Marion came timidly to her side.
"Lady Ridsdale," she began, in a half-hesitating manner, "of course I never thought such happiness as the marriage of my guardian was in store for me."
"I suppose not," was the smiling reply.
"I used to think that I should go away from here and be so lonely, so sad. I have made a promise and I do not see how I can keep it."
Lady Ridsdale was touched and flattered by the girl's confidence.