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 to her), why what has happened to disturb her mind?"

"Lord, don't you know?" asked Floretta with a kind of eager stare.

"No, I can't even conjecture," said Madeline.

"Well, I could never have supposed my lady would have been so secret with you (cried Floretta, after the pause of a minute); though after all it does not surprise me, for I know it shocks her to have any one suspect his wickedness."

"Whose wickedness (asked Madeline eagerly)? you astonish me beyond expression by your words."

"Aye, and I could astonish you much more, Mam'selle (said Floretta), if I was to tell you all I know; for, from my mother's being a favourite with the Countess, and from my being always in her service, I know more of her affairs than perhaps any other person except Agatha does; often and often she has made me promise to keep them all profoundly secret; and to be sure so I have, and