'My heart beat lightly, and I was on the point of saying something, I know not what—pretty pointed, however, when, in an evil moment, I drew forth her pocket-book, and said:
'"Does not this belong to you, Miss Berriedale? your initials are gilded on the cover."
'"It is mine!" she exclaimed, while blushing deeply, and then growing deadly pale, as she remembered what she feared I might have seen, and more, perhaps, that I had not seen; "where did you find it?" she added with some sharpness of tone.
'"Lying on the floor, yonder, in the other drawing-room."
'"And how long have you had it?" she continued, with an increased hardness of tone which chilled me.
'"But a few minutes; young ladies should be careful——"
'"Of what?" she inquired haughtily.
'"Miss Berriedale," said I, in agitated voice, and endeavouring to take her hand; but she eluded me, and even withdrew her arm, saying, "I must rejoin mamma."
'She rejoined the large group near the chandelier, with her whole manner and bearing totally changed, while I followed her completely crestfallen, with the eyes of Vassal Holland upon me, as if inquiring whether I had put my fate to the issue, and what had come of it.
'A vague sense of having incurred her displeasure at the very moment when I was about to declare my passionate love for her, oppressed me; yet, when the time for departure came, and the carriages and palkees were announced, I hastened to cloak her, but she submitted in grim silence.