"You wish, of course, to make her a very handsome present ?" "No, not quite that," said Marion, looking very uncomfortable; "it is much worse than that.

I thought I should be all alone, and I promised that when I left Miss Carleton's she should go with me as my companion, and should live with me." Lady Ridsdale looked very grave.
"I do not think it possible, my dear," she replied.

"Lord Ridsdale has the greatest objection to that kind of thing.

Will you not try if you shall like me as a companion ?" "I am quite sure to do that," she said; "but I made the promise.

What shall I do ?" "You made it under a certain set of circumstances," said Lady Ridsdale "and they no longer exist.