she immediately stole out of bed, and unlatching her door, opened just as much of it as would permit her to observe what was going on without being discovered. She had not stood here a minute, when the Countess's door was opened with as much caution as her own had been, and she saw her coming from it with a light; and then, to her inexpressible amazement, beheld her father standing in the passage, who, taking the hand of the Countess, led her softly down stairs. It was some time before Madeline could move, so much was she astonished; a number of uneasy sensations rushed upon her mind; but she was too innocent to harbour any ideas prejudicial to her father and his friend: she concluded they had chosen this time as the best for talking over affairs which they wished to conceal. What an opportunity, thought Madeline, is there now for discovering those affairs:—she instantly flew to the chair on which her things were thrown, and snatching up a wrapper, threw it over her with breathless impatience, and hastened
