"I do not know what it was, dearest," returned Miss Vernon, "so I cannot tell whether I ought to mourn over another block being added to that pavement of which we have heard so often."
"Well, perhaps it was needless, but now we are free from the servants, tell me all that news over again."
"Lord Effingham," began Kate.
"Nay, dear girl, your own friends first."
"Well then, Colonel Dashwood said he would call here to-morrow."
"I shall be very glad to know him. I had left Dungar long before he was there; and I have a grudge against him, Kate, for I fancy it was the remembrance connected with his appearance, that caused those tears, of which I can still detect the traces on your face."
"No, Georgy, no, indeed" replied Miss Vernon, earnestly. "Now," she continued, "let me return to Lord Effingham, he heard, it seemed, that I was in the Palace-gardens, and came after me, to ask me what was the real cause of your indisposition, and to laugh at my story of "a cold!""
"Indeed!" said Lady Desmond, with a slight start. "What other reason could he imagine?"
"I do not know, but—" she paused.
"Pray go on," said Lady Desmond, impatiently, "I hate to have things cut short."