Alice, or the Mysteries — Complete

								

all that superficial superiority that a girl of twenty-three who knows
London readily exercises over a country girl of seventeen. On the other
hand, Caroline was kind and affectionate towards her. The clergyman's
daughter felt that she could not be always superior, even in fashion, to
the wealthy heiress.
One evening, as Mrs. Leslie and Mrs. Merton sat under the veranda of the
cottage, without their hostess, who had gone alone into the village, and
the young ladies were confidentially conversing on the lawn, Mrs.
Leslie said rather abruptly, "Is not Evelyn a delightful creature? How
unconscious of her beauty; how simple, and yet so naturally gifted!"
"I have never seen one who interested me more," said Mrs. Merton,
settling her pelerine; "she is extremely pretty."
"I am so anxious about her," resumed Mrs. Leslie, thoughtfully. "You
know the wish of the late Lord Vargrave that she should marry his
nephew, the present lord, when she reaches the age of eighteen. She
only wants nine or ten months of that time; she has seen nothing of the
world: she is not fit to decide for herself; and Lady Vargrave, the best
of human creatures, is still herself almost too inexperienced in
the world to be a guide for one so young placed in such peculiar
circumstances, and of prospects so brilliant. Lady Vargrave at heart is
a child still, and will be so even when as old as I am."
"It is very true," said Mrs. Merton. "Don't you fear that the girls will
catch cold? The dew is falling, and the grass must be wet."
"I have thought," continued Mrs. Leslie, without heeding the latter part
of Mrs. Merton's speech, "that it would be a kind thing to invite Evelyn
to stay with you a few months at the Rectory. To be sure, it is not like
London; but you see a great deal of the world. The society at your
house is well selected, and at times even brilliant; she will meet young
people of her own age, and young people fashion and form each other."
"I was thinking myself that I should like to invite her," said Mrs.
Merton; "I will consult Caroline."
"Caroline, I am sure, would be delighted; the difficulty lies rather in
Evelyn herself."
"You surprise me! she must be moped to death here."
"But will she leave her mother?"
"Why, Caroline often leaves me," said Mrs. Merton.
Mrs. Leslie was silent, and Evelyn and her new friend now joined the
mother and daughter.
"I have been trying to persuade Evelyn to pay us a little visit," said
Caroline; "she could accompany us so nicely; and if she is still strange
with us, dear grandmamma goes too,--I am sure we can make her at home."
"How odd!" said Mrs. Merton; "we were just saying the same thing. My
dear Miss Cameron, we should be so happy to have you."
"And I should be so happy to go, if Mamma would but go too."
As she spoke, the moon, just risen, showed the form of Lady Vargrave
slowly approaching the house. By the light, her features seemed more