I was made aware of them rather abruptly by my mother herself.  We had attended a splendid ball, given by Lord M——­, at his residence in Stephen’s-green, and I was, with the assistance of my waiting-maid, employed in rapidly divesting myself of the rich ornaments which, in profuseness and value, could scarcely have found their equals in any private family in Ireland.  I had thrown myself into a lounging chair beside the fire, listless and exhausted, after the fatigues of the evening, when I was aroused from the reverie into which I had fallen, by the sound of footsteps approaching my chamber, and my mother entered.

“Fanny, my dear,” said she, in her softest tone.  “I wish to say a word or two with you before I go to rest.  You are not fatigued, love, I hope?”

“No, no, madam, I thank you,” said I, rising at the same time from my seat with the formal respect so little practised now.

“Sit down, my dear,” said she, placing herself upon a chair beside me; “I must chat with you for a quarter of an hour or so.  Saunders (to the maid), you may leave the room; do not close the room door, but shut that of the lobby.”

This precaution against curious ears having been taken as directed, my mother proceeded.

“You have observed, I should suppose, my dearest Fanny; indeed, you must have observed, Lord Glenfallen’s marked attentions to you?”

“I assure you, madam,” I began.

“Well, well, that is all right,” interrupted my mother; “of course you must be modest upon the matter; but listen to me for a few moments, my love, and I will prove to your satisfaction that your modesty is quite unnecessary in this case.  You have done better than we could have hoped, at least, so very soon.  Lord Glenfallen is in love with you.  I give you joy of your conquest,” and saying this, my mother kissed my forehead.

“In love with me!” I exclaimed, in unfeigned astonishment.

“Yes, in love with you,” repeated my mother; “devotedly, distractedly in love with you.  Why, my dear, what is there wonderful in it; look in the glass, and look at these,” she continued, pointing with a smile to the jewels which I had just removed from my person, and which now lay a glittering heap upon the table.

“May there not,” said I, hesitating between confusion and real alarm; “is it not possible that some mistake may be at the bottom of all this?”

“Mistake! dearest; none,” said my mother.  “None, none in the world; judge for yourself; read this, my love,” and she placed in my hand a letter, addressed to herself, the seal of which was broken.  I read it through with no small surprise.  After some very fine complimentary flourishes upon my beauty and perfections, as, also, upon the antiquity and high reputation of our family, it went on to make a formal proposal of marriage, to be communicated or not to me at present, as my mother should deem expedient; and the letter wound up by a request that the writer might be permitted, upon our return to Ashtown-house, which was soon to take place, as the spring was now tolerably advanced, to visit us for a few days, in case his suit was approved.