“I shall enjoy anything and everything” said Marion.  “I have all my life before me, and it will be full of glorious possibilities.”

Suddenly she paused, remembering that her life was settled and arranged; it held no more possibilities; they were all at an end.  For the first time she felt the weight of the chain that bound her.  Lady Ridsdale wondered why the beautiful face suddenly grew pale and grave.

Half an hour afterwards Marion came timidly to her side.

“Lady Ridsdale,” she began, in a half-hesitating manner, “of course I never thought such happiness as the marriage of my guardian was in store for me.”

“I suppose not,” was the smiling reply.

“I used to think that I should go away from here and be so lonely, so sad.  I have made a promise and I do not see how I can keep it.”

Lady Ridsdale was touched and flattered by the girl’s confidence.

“Tell me all about it, Marion; you shall keep the promise, if it be possible.”

“There is a governess here, one of the assistants; her name is Lyster—­Adelaide Lyster.  She has always been very kind to me; indeed I should have been most lonely but for her, and I—­I am very much attached to her.”

“Quite natural and quite right,” said Lady Ridsdale.  “You wish, of course, to make her a very handsome present?”

“No, not quite that,” said Marion, looking very uncomfortable; “it is much worse than that.  I thought I should be all alone, and I promised that when I left Miss Carleton’s she should go with me as my companion, and should live with me.”

Lady Ridsdale looked very grave.

“I do not think it possible, my dear,” she replied.  “Lord Ridsdale has the greatest objection to that kind of thing.  Will you not try if you shall like me as a companion?”

“I am quite sure to do that,” she said; “but I made the promise.  What shall I do?”

“You made it under a certain set of circumstances,” said Lady Ridsdale “and they no longer exist.  You may, I think, in all honor, defer the keeping of it, until you have a house of your own.”

But Marion still looked as she felt—­uncomfortable.  Lord Ridsdale had gone to superintend some arrangements for their departure, leaving the two ladies alone.

“You think the young person will be disappointed?” said Lady Ridsdale, kindly.

“I am sure she will,” replied Marion wincing at the words “young person.”

“Let me see her; ask her to come here, and I will speak to her.  After all, my dear, you are not in the least to blame if you cannot keep your promise—­you must remember that.”

A few more minutes and Miss Lyster, dressed in her most becoming costume, stood before Lady Ridsdale.

A few words passed, and then Lady Ridsdale began;

“My ward is in some distress, Miss Lyster.  I find that she has promised you that you shall live with her as companion.”