CHAPTER II.
THE BROKEN CROSS.
Lady Isabel's carriage continued its way, and deposited her at the residence of Mrs.Levison.

Mrs.Levison was nearly eighty years of age, and very severe in speech and manner, or, as Mrs.Vane expressed it, "crabbed." She looked the image of impatience when Isabel entered, with her cap pushed all awry, and pulling at the black satin gown, for Mrs.
Vane had kept her waiting dinner, and Isabel was keeping her from her tea; and that does not agree with the aged, with their health or with their temper.
"I fear I am late," exclaimed Lady Isabel, as she advanced to Mrs.
Levison; "but a gentleman dined with papa to-day, and it made us rather longer at table." "You are twenty-five minutes behind your time," cried the old lady sharply, "and I want my tea.

Emma, order it in." Mrs.Vane rang the bell, and did as she was bid.

She was a little woman of six-and-twenty, very plain in face, but elegant in figure, very accomplished, and vain to her fingers' ends.

Her mother, who was dead, had been Mrs.Levison's daughter, and her husband, Raymond Vane, was presumptive heir to the earldom of Mount Severn.
"Won't you take that tippet off, child ?" asked Mrs.Levison, who knew nothing of the new-fashioned names for such articles, mantles, burnous, and all the string of them; and Isabel threw it off and sat down by her.
"The tea is not made, grandmamma!" exclaimed Mrs.Vane, in an accent of astonishment, as the servant appeared with the tray and the silver urn.
"You surely do not have it made in the room." "Where should I have it made ?" inquired Mrs.Levison.
"It is much more convenient to have it brought in, ready made," said Mrs.Vane.