And what were Fanny’s thoughts about her cousin?  She was much surprised and gratified, but at the same time somewhat flustered and overwhelmed, by the warmth and novelty of his affection.  However, she never for a moment doubted his truth towards her, or had the slightest suspicion of his real object.  Her chief thought was whether she could induce him to be a mediator for her, between Lord Cashel and Lord Ballindine.

During the next two days he spoke to her a good deal about her brother—­of whom, by-the-bye, he had really known nothing.  He contrived, however, to praise him as a young man of much spirit and great promise; then he spoke of her own large fortune, asked her what her wishes were about its investment, and told her how happy he would be to express those wishes at once to Lord Cashel, and to see that they were carried out.  Once or twice she had gradually attempted to lead the conversation to Lord Ballindine, but Kilcullen was too crafty, and had prevented her; and she had not yet sufficient courage to tell him at once what was so near her heart.

“Fanny,” said Lady Selina, one morning, about a week after the general arrival of the company at Grey Abbey, and when some of them had taken their departure, “I am very glad to see you have recovered your spirits:  I know you have made a great effort, and I appreciate and admire it.”

“Indeed, Selina, I fear you are admiring me too soon.  I own I have been amused this week past, and, to a certain degree, pleased; but I fear you’ll find I shall relapse.  There’s been no radical reform; my thoughts are all in the same direction as they were.”

“But the great trial in this world is to behave well and becomingly in spite of oppressive thoughts:  and it always takes a struggle to do that, and that struggle you’ve made.  I hope it may lead you to feel that you may be contented and in comfort without having everything which you think necessary to your happiness.  I’m sure I looked forward to this week as one of unmixed trouble and torment; but I was very wrong to do so.  It has given me a great deal of unmixed satisfaction.”

“I’m very glad of that, Selina, but what was it?  I’m sure it could not have come from poor Mrs Ellison, or the bishop’s wife; and you seemed to me to spend all your time in talking to them.  Virtue, they say, is its own reward:  I don’t know what other satisfaction you can have had from them.”

“In the first place, it has given me great pleasure to see that you were able to exert yourself in company, and that the crowd of people did not annoy you:  but I have chiefly been delighted by seeing that you and Adolphus are such good friends.  You must think, Fanny, that I am anxious about an only brother—­especially when we have all had so much cause to be anxious about him; and don’t you think it must be a delight to me to find that he is able to take pleasure in your society?  I should be doubly pleased, doubly delighted, if I could please him myself.  But I have not the vivacity to amuse him.”