the higher, because Meersbrook, who had seen more of her than himself, assured him that Helen's disposition was every way excellent, and her love for her sister as decided as the attachment which bound themselves to each other.
The letter was dated three days before it was found; and Helen, who had read it all through with interest, and scanned the latter part with eyes that dwelt on every letter, was of opinion that it had been placed in the hands of the page, who could find no opportunity or excuse for going to their bed-room, until he knew they were in the breakfast-parlour, from whence they had long been banished.
At the moment these conjectures were going forward, Lady Anne's foot was heard ascending their stairs; it was a positive event, for no ordinary circumstance, whether of threatened or actual sickness, had ever brought her, and on all occasions of anger the young ladies were sent for to be scolded, as Georgiana of late was well aware. The guilty are always cowards; and both of them at this very moment felt so oppressed by their awful secret, that they were ready to believe mamma had actually planned the whole affair, and was about to pounce upon them in the very fact of receiving a love-letter by surreptitious means. Most fortunately the exigence of despair prompted Georgiana to instant action—she seized the letter and thrust it under the bed-clothes, at the moment the door was opened,
