“When are we to see Pendennyss?” inquired the Marquess; “I hope he will be here with George—­I have a mind to beat up his quarters in Wales this season—­what say you, Derwent?”

“I intend it, if I can persuade Lady Harriet to quit the gaieties of Bath so soon—­what say you, sister—­will you be in readiness to attend me so early?”

This question was asked in an arch tone, and drew the eyes of her friends on the person to whom it was addressed.

“I am ready now, Frederick, if you wish it,” answered the sister hastily, and coloring excessively as she spoke.

“But where is Chatterton?  I thought he was here—­he had a sister married here last week,” inquired Lord William Stapleton, addressing no one in particular.

A slight movement in their neighbors attracted the attention of the party.

“What a lovely young woman,” whispered the duke to Lady Laura, “your neighbor is!”

The lady smiled her assent, and as Emily overheard it, she rose with glowing cheeks, and proposed a walk round the room.

Chatterton soon after entered.  The young peer had acknowledged to Emily that, deprived of hope as he had been by her firm refusal of his hand, his efforts had been directed to the suppression of a passion which could never be successful; but his esteem, his respect, remained in full force.  He did not touch at all on the subject of Denbigh, and she supposed that he thought his marriage was a step that required justification.

The Moseleys had commenced their promenade round the room as Chatterton came in.  He paid his compliments to them as soon as he entered, and walked with their party.  The noble visitors followed their example, and the two parties met.  Chatterton was delighted to see them, the Duke was particularly fond of him; and, had one been present of sufficient observation, the agitation of his sister, the Lady Harriet Denbigh, would have accounted for the doubts of her brother as respects her willingness to leave Bath.

A few words of explanation passed; the duke and his friends appeared to urge something on Chatterton, who acted as their ambassador, and the consequence was, an introduction of the two parties to each other.  This was conducted with the ease of the present fashion—­it was general, and occurred, as it were incidentally, in the course of the evening.

Both Lady Harriet and Lady Laura Denbigh were particularly attentive to Emily.  They took their seats by her, and manifested a preference for her conversation that struck Mrs. Wilson as remarkable.  Could it be that the really attractive manners and beauty of her niece had caught the fancy of these ladies, or was there a deeper seated cause for the desire to draw Emily out, that both of them evinced?  Mrs. Wilson had heard a rumor that Chatterton was thought attentive to Lady Harriet, and the other was the wife of Denbigh; was it possible the quondam suitors of her niece had