Mary heard all this in shame and silence; but Lady Emily, wearied and provoked by her folly and want of principle, was often led to express her indignation and and contempt in terms which drew tears from her cousin’s eyes.  Mary was indeed the only person in the world who felt her sister’s dereliction with the keenest feelings of shame and sorrow.  All Adelaide’s coldness and unkindness had not been able to eradicate from her heart those deep-rooted sentiments of affection which seem to have been entwined with our existence, and which, with some generous natures, end but with their being.  Yes! there are ties that bind together those of one family, stronger than those of taste, or choice, or friendship, or reason; for they enable us to love, even in opposition to them all.

It was understood the fugitives had gone to Germany; and after wonder and scandal were exhausted, and a divorce obtained, the Duchess of Altamont, except to her own family, was as though she had never been.  Such is the transition from—­from guilt to insignificance!

Amongst the numerous visitors who flocked to Beech Park, whether from sympathy, curiosity, or exultation, was Mrs. Downe Wright.  None of these motives, singly, had brought that lady there, for her purpose was that of giving what she genteelly termed some good hits to the Douglas’s pride—­a delicate mode of warfare, in which, it must be owned, the female sex greatly excel.

Mrs. Downe Wright had not forgiven the indignity of her son having been refused by Mary, which she imputed entirely to Lady Emily’s influence, and had from that moment predicted the downfall of the whole pack, as she styled the family; at the same time always expressing her wish that she might be mistaken, as she wished them well—­God knows she bore them no ill-will, etc.  She entered the drawing-room at Beech Park with a countenance cast to a totally different expression from that with which she had greeted Lady Matilda Sufton’s widowhood.  Melancholy would there have been appropriate, here it was insulting; and accordingly, with downcast eyes, and silent pressures of the hand, she saluted every member of the family, and inquired after their healths with that air of anxious solicitude which implied that if they were all well it was what they ought not to be.  Lady Emily’s quick tact was presently aware of her design, and she prepared to take the field against her.

“I had some difficulty in getting admittance to you,” said Mrs. Downe Wright.  “The servant would fain have denied you; but at such a time, I knew the visit of a friend could not fail of being acceptable, so I made good my way in spite of him.”

“I had given orders to be at home to friends only,” returned Lady Emily, “as there is no end to the inroads of acquaintances.”

“And poor Lady Juliana,” said Mrs. Downe Wright in a tone of affected sympathy, “I hope she is able to see her friends?”

“Did you not meet her?” asked Lady Emily carelessly.  “She is just gone to Bath for the purpose of securing a box during the term of Kean’s engagement; she would not trust to l’eloquence du billet upon such an occasion.”