Angelo might join. Upon which, Aline had half jestingly exclaimed "Oh yes, I am quite ready to sing the Somnambula through-Carlo will tell you Sir Michael how I have always longed to shew off my talents in Amina!" 66 Ah, there is no need for me to tell Sir Michael that my Aline is a vano piccola," the husband playfully returned. But Lady Mountjoy had eagerly caught at Aline's suggestion. "The Somnambula! how delightful! Signor Angelo, does your wife really act the part? sing it I have little doubt she can." "Now Carlo, do not look 30 satirical," Aline exclaimed, "you know, if I am vain, it is you that have made me so, for when we have sung the opera together, how often have you told me that I acted the Somnambula to perfection!" Angelo smiled, but did not deny this assertion, and Lady Mountjoy again returned to the attack, supplicating Signor Angelo to second the charming offer by consenting to rrange the performance of some scenes in that piece. There were one or two other voices of the party which might be brought in to assist if required, and all facility as to scenery might be afforded them, as there was a regular theatre in the house, to which she would show them afterwards. Sir Michael, all animation at the operatic idea, immediately gave his opinion in its favour -graciously offering his assistance in the directing line, and Angelo could only smilingly say, he was at their service, and ready to exert himself as was solicited. And thus Lady Mountjoy had been enabled to report the plan to Lord Mervyn, as we have already heard. That portion of the day devoted to shooting by the sportsmen of the party was therefore industriously appropriated by the rest of the company to the furtherance of the important design. This consequent monopoly of Aline grieved Ada-especially prognosticating as she did that she might not be permitted to profit by its fruits-a prognostication too truly verified, for late that afternoon the Seyton carriage arrived, with an order to convey Miss Seyton and her attendant back to Merriford early the following morning. Lady Adelaide had been too weak to write, but had sent an express that so it should be. The Ladies Marchmont looked conscious when the message was delivered, and expressed regret at their niece's disappointment. But Ada bore it with equanimity. She had been prepared for the summons; besides circumstances which before might have seemed of high importance, now appeared to her by comparison light and trifling. A gloom came over Aline's spirit when she heard of the occurrence. It checked for a while the elated excitement which the success, beyond all hope, with which her critical visit was crowned, had elevated her heart. The sense of hurt, and mortified feeling which this marked manifestation of hostile sentiments on Lady Adelaide's part excited, mingled unpleasantly with the gratified vanity stirred up within her woman's breast by the flattering position she had so speedily acquired in the good graces of the party present. She would not however humble herself by confessing in words her consciousness of the cause of this sudden recall, and Ada of course alluded not to her conviction of the same-but both looked sorrowful and pained. CHAPTER XI. Hope is a lover's staff; walk hence with that, "He loves and he rides away!" OLD SONG. WHEN Lord Mervyn returned home and heard of the decree, he expressed much angry annoyance-declaring the summons to be some absurd whim of Lady Adelaide's, and that he would not allow Ada to go; but when she resisted this infraction of her mother's orders as impossible, he yielded the point, only murmuring in a low significant tone in her ear— |