"Don't, Selina, pray don't! That any body good for any thing should ever marry him!"
"Any body good for any thing!" repeated Selina. "Well, granted,—and it is a considerable grant,—does that make the supposition out of the question?"
"Yes, as regards Caroline. O, Selina! you do not know Caroline, or you would not look so incredulous!"
"Time will show," said Lady Marchmont, gaily. "I reserve to myself the satisfaction of having known it beforehand."
"It never will be," said Marian. "And how is little Willie?"
"Very well, poor little man, if he would only grow, but he is so small, that I am fairly ashamed to show such a hop-o'-my-thumb. But he is coming out quite a genius; he reads as well as I do, and makes the wisest speeches."
And the history of his wise speeches occupied them for some time, with other matters, until just as their drive was nearly concluded, Selina exclaimed, "But all this time I have never asked you if you can throw any light on this extraordinary step of Edmund Arundel's?"
"What do you mean?" cried Marian.
"Have you not heard that he has exchanged, and is coming home? The most foolish thing,—just as he might have been sure of promotion. It is not likely to be health, for the climate agreed very well with him."
"Yes," assented Marian, wrapt in her own thoughts; "but did he write to you?"