In the meantime, Lady Clonbrony had been occupied with thoughts very different from those which passed in the mind of her son.

Though she had never completely recovered from her rheumatic pains, she had become inordinately impatient of confinement to her own house, and weary of those dull evenings at home, which had, in her son's absence, become insupportable.

She told over her visiting tickets regularly twice a day, and gave to every card of invitation a heartfelt sigh.

Miss Pratt alarmed her ladyship, by bringing intelligence of some parties given by persons of consequence, to which she was not invited.

She feared that she should be forgotten in the world, well knowing how soon the world forgets those they do not see every day and everywhere.