As Marion Wade and Lora Lovelace sate conversing in their chamber, on the eve of retiring to rest, two horsemen, heavily cloaked, might have been been passing out from under the windows, and heading towards the high-road, as if bent upon a journey.
It was Marion’s sleeping apartment, that was occupied by the brace of beautiful maidens—whose intention it was to share the same couch.
It had not been their habit to do so: for each had her separate chamber. But an event had occurred making it desirable that, on that particular night, they should depart from their usual custom. Lora required the confidence of her cousin—older than herself—and her counsel, as well—in a matter so serious as to demand the privacy of a sleeping apartment.
Indeed, two events had happened to her on the day preceding, both of which called for the interposition of a friend. They were matters too weighty to be borne by a single bosom.
They were somewhat similar in character—if not altogether so: both being avowals of love, ending in offers of marriage.
There was, however, a considerable dissimilarity in the individuals from whom the tender declarations had proceeded. One was her own cousin—Walter Wade—the other, it is scarce necessary to say, being Cornet Stubbs.
Lora had not hesitated as to the reply she should make to either. It was not for this she was seeking the counsel of her cousin. The answers had been given frankly and freely—on the same instant as the asking. To Walter an affirmative; to Stubbs a negative, if not indignant, at least final and emphatic.
That point had been settled before the sun went down; and Marion’s advice was only sought in order that the little Lora—her junior in years, as well as womanly experience—might become better acquainted with the details relating to that most important ceremony of a woman’s life—the nuptial.
Alas, for Lora; her cousin proved but a poor counsellor. Instead of being able to give advice, Marion needed rather to receive it; and it was from a vague hope, that Lora might suggest some scheme to alleviate her own unpleasant reflections, that she had so gladly listened to the proposal of their passing the night together.
What had occurred to disquiet the thoughts of Marion Wade?