“That Mrs. Hamilton may have the exquisite pleasure of seeing her daughter like other people, however different she may choose to be herself; you will rather do her a kindness than an injury, my dear Miss Grahame.”

“Fortunately for my purpose, she will not think so.  I shall, through Caroline, inflict a deeper wound than I ever thought to have done.  No other injury would have touched her; she prides herself on Christian forbearance and patience, and such like, which, simply translated, would be found to be nothing but haughtiness and pride, and utter insensibility to human feelings; but if Caroline goes wrong, elopes, perhaps, as her aunt did, disregards parental commands, and acts in the weighty affair of matrimony for herself, why that will be something like a triumph for my diplomatic schemes.”

“You must work well on Caroline’s mind to produce such a consummation,” observed Miss Malison.  “I doubt much whether she would ever act in a manner that she would believe so contrary to her duty.  I would advise you never to give her time to reflect.”

“I never mean to do so.  If the silly girl had ever reflected at all, she would at once have known that she loved St. Eval and not Lord Alphingham; that her mother is her truest friend, and not Annie Grahame; but as she chooses to remain so stupidly blind and trusting, why I see no harm in playing my part, and as for her consenting, let her but hear the honourable Viscount’s sweet persuasive eloquence and look on his handsome and pleading features, and consent will quickly be obtained.”

“But why should he not demand her at once of her father?  Mr. Hamilton is always friendly with him when they meet.”

“You have just hit the mark, ma chere.  That very truth was always a stumbling block in my machinations, for I almost feared, by Mr. Hamilton’s manner towards him, that the interesting tales concerning his youth, which I had intended should be poured into his wife’s ear, might be disregarded; such from the first had been my intention, but I have felt puzzled in a degree how to set about it.”

“Nay, you do yourself injury, my dearest Miss Grahame,” observed the ex-governess, officiously.  “From your earliest years you were never puzzled at anything.”

“My wits deserted me then for the moment,” replied Annie, laughing, “and would perhaps have returned when my plot was ripe for execution; but I am happy to say I can dispense with their assistance, as I have received it most effectually from a member of Mr. Hamilton’s own family.”

“How!” exclaimed Miss Malison, much astonished.