cause of the dreadful scene I had witnessed, and what I had done to provoke such violence.

Mrs. Johnston, however, could not quite satisfy me, as she evidently did not know herself. All she knew was, that her lady had sent for her, and, in a state of violent agitation, ordered her to send for a hackney coach, and to take me off immediately.

From some expressions that escaped her lady, Mrs. Johnston thought that I had given her cause of jealousy.

This astonished me more than any thing, and I thought my companion must be mistaken. She, however, promised to bring my things the next day, when she would inform me of the cause of this sad change in my affairs.

We parted at Mrs. Davies's door, for her house, as may be supposed, was the only place I could venture to go to at that time of night, it being now eleven o'clock.

Her surprise at seeing me, was only exceeded by her indignation at the treatment I

had received, and she ended, as she always did, by saying, “Poor thing, if you had been the lady's maid instead of the governess, you would not have been served so."

What would have become of me without this kind but humble friend, I cannot imagine. Turned out of doors at such an unseasonable hour, I really think I should have lost my senses; but soothed and comforted by the persevering kindness of my hostess, I began to feel a little more composed.

The next day I waited with impatience for the promised visit of Mrs. Johnston, but she came not. The following day also passed without my seeing her. The third, she arrived, when she gave me the following account of the cause of the tremendous uproar I had witnessed, and what had happened since I left Harley Street.

It appeared that Hopkins, the lady's maid, who was a favourite with her mistress, had taken a great aversion to me, in consequence of my being so much liked by Lady Dalton and the little girl, and she had done all in her

power to prejudice the child against me, hoping by her means to weaken the influence which she fancied I had with her lady, and which, she took it into her head, might be prejudicial to herself. This not succeeding with my innocent little pupil, she resolved to raise the fiend, jealousy, in the mind of her mistress, well knowing that was the only point on which she was vulnerable.

Accordingly, after I left the drawing-room for my guitar on that eventful evening, Hopkins, who had watched my departure, entered it, begging to speak a few words to her dear lady, on a subject which, she said, greatly distressed her. She then, after conjuring her mistress to be secret, told her that she was afraid Sir Henry admired Miss Dornay more than he ought, and that she felt certain, from what she had seen, that he was encouraged in his attentions.

Emboldened by the silence of Lady Dalton, she went on to say, that she had, in passing the dining-room door a few minutes since, overheard a conversation between her master and

Captain Brigstocke, in which the former had spoken in the most glowing terms of me. That Captain Brigstocke had proposed my health in a bumper, wishing me a good husband: that Sir Henry had cordially joined in drinking my health, but said he did not wish me to be married, as he should not like to part with me.

Hopkins had gone thus far in her tissue of falsehoods, when Lady Dalton, who had kept in her passion, partly from astonishment and horror, and partly that she might hear all that her woman had to say, could contain no longer, but bursting into a frenzy of rage, declared I should that instant be turned out of her house.

Hopkins, who desired nothing less than this sort of explosion, which she well knew might mar her plot, tried to sooth down the passions of her infuriated mistress; but the ignorant and artful creature had lighted a flame which she could not quench.

I came into the room in the midst of this commotion, as has been already described.

After I had left the house, Sir Henry found

it impossible for some time to pacify his wife, or to bring her to reason. He insisted upon

Hopkins being put on her oath to verify all she had said. While she hesitated, he himself calmly related all that had passed below.

Some time after we had quitted the diningroom, and while the butler was in it, Captain Brigstocke observed that Miss Dornay was a very lovely, modest-looking girl, and that he considered her particularly fortunate in falling into such good hands as Lady Dalton's.

Sir Henry simply concurred with his friend. Not a word was dropped as to wishing me a good husband, or drinking my health.

"Now," added Sir Henry, "James was in the room; I insist on his being called up and desired to relate what passed."

He did so, and completely confirmed his master's statement, adding that as he left the dining-room, he found Mrs. Hopkins on the outside, which surprised him.

Captain Brigstocke had left the house before the disturbance, to go to his hotel in the same