Mrs. Wilson’s head dropped on the shoulders of the kneeling youth, her arms were thrown in fervor around his neck, and she burst into a flood of tears.  For a moment, both were absorbed in their own feelings; but a cry from Pendennyss aroused the aunt to the situation of her niece.

Emily had fallen senseless on the sofa.

An hour elapsed before her engagements admitted of the return of Lady Chatterton to the breakfast parlor, where she was surprised to find the breakfast equipage yet standing, and her cousin, the earl.  Looking from one to the other in surprise, she exclaimed,—­

“Very sociable, upon my word; how long has your lordship honored my house with your presence, and have you taken the liberty to introduce yourself to Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley?”

“Sociability and ease are the fashion of the day.  I have been here an hour, my dear coz, and have taken the liberty of introducing myself to Mrs. Wilson and Miss Moseley,” replied the earl gravely, although a smile of meaning lighted his handsome features as he uttered the latter part of the sentence, which was returned by Emily with a look of archness and pleasure that would have graced her happiest moments of juvenile joy.

There was such an interchange of looks, and such a visible alteration in the appearance of her guests, that it could not but attract the notice of Lady Chatterton.  After listening to the conversation between them for some time in silence; and wondering what could have wrought so sudden a change below stairs, she broke forth with saying,—­“Upon my word, you are an incomprehensible party to me.  I left you ladies alone, and find a gentleman with you.  I left you grave, if not melancholy, and find you all life and gaiety.  I find you with a stranger, and you talk with him about walks, and rides, and scenes, and acquaintances.  Will you, madam, or you, my lord, be so kind as to explain these seeming inconsistencies?”

“No,” cried the earl, “to punish your curiosity, I will keep you in ignorance; but Marian is in waiting for me at your neighbor’s, Mrs. Wilmot, and I must hasten to her—–­ you will see us both by five.”  Rising from his seat he took the offered hand of Mrs. Wilson and pressed it to his lips.  To Emily he also extended his hand, and received hers in return, though with a face suffused with the color of the rose.  Pendennyss held it to his heart for a moment with fervor, and kissing it, precipitately left the room.  Emily concealed her face with her hands, and, dissolving in tears, sought the retirement of an adjoining apartment.

All these unaccountable movements filled Lady Chatterton with amazement, that would have been too painful for further endurance; and Mrs. Wilson, knowing that further concealment with so near a connexion would be impossible, if not unnecessary, entered into a brief explanation of the earl’s masquerade (although ignorant herself of its cause, or of the means of supporting it), and his present relation with her niece.