“I am not in the habit of being schooled as to right and wrong by a younger sister, nor will I put up with it now, Emmeline.  I never interfere with your conduct, and therefore you will, if you please, do the same with me.  I am not responsible to you for my actions, nor shall I ever be,” replied Caroline, with cold yet angry pride.

“But I will speak, when I know you have acted contrary to those principles mamma has ever endeavoured to instill into us both,” replied Emmeline, still indignantly; “and you are and have been ever welcome to remonstrate with me.  I am not so weak as I once was, fearful to speak my sentiments even when I knew them to be right.  You have acted shamefully, cruelly, Caroline, and I will tell you what I think, angry as it may make you.”

A haughty and contemptuous answer rose to Caroline’s lips, but she was prevented giving it utterance by the entrance of Martyn, her mother’s maid, with her lady’s commands that Miss Hamilton should attend her in the boudoir.

“How provoking!” she exclaimed.  “I expect Annie to call for me every minute, and mamma will perhaps detain me half an hour;” and most unwillingly she obeyed the summons.

“Annie,” repeated Emmeline, when her sister had left the room, “Annie—­this is her work; if my sister had not been thus intimate with her she never would have acted in this manner.”  And so disturbed was the gentle girl at this confirmation of her fears, that it was some little time before she could recover sufficient serenity to rejoin Ellen in arranging the widow’s packet.

Mrs. Langford had the charge of Oakwood during the absence of the family, and Mrs. Hamilton, recollecting some affairs concerning the village schools she wished the widow to attend to, was writing her directions as Caroline entered, much to the latter’s increased annoyance, as her mother’s business with her would thus be retarded, and every minute drew the time of Annie’s appointment nearer.  She could scarcely conceal her impatience, and did venture to beg her mother to tell her what she required.

“Your attention, Caroline, for a time,” she replied, so coldly, that her daughter felt instantly something was wrong, though what she guessed not, for she knew not that St. Eval had obtained the sanction of her parents for his addresses; and she little imagined he could have anything to do with the displeasure she saw so clearly marked.

“You will wait, if you please, till I have finished writing, as this cannot be delayed.  Lord St. Eval leaves town in a very short time, and I send this by him.”

“Lord St. Eval,” thought Caroline, suddenly becoming alarmed, “surely mamma and papa know nothing of his offer.”

A few minutes passed in silence, which was broken by the sound of carriage-wheels stopping at the door, and Robert almost instantly after entered with Miss Grahame’s love, saying she could not wait a minute, and hoped Miss Hamilton was ready.