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 will be in a fine taking, Miss, to have you upon her hands, again, so all of the sudden."

This speech, notwithstanding its grossness, surprised from Ellis an exclamation, "Does not Mrs. Maple, then, expect me?"

"How should she, when my lady never settled what she should do about you herself, till after twelve o'clock last night? However, as to sending you back without notice, she has no notion, she says, of standing upon any ceremony with Mrs. Maple, who made so little of popping you upon her and Lady Aurora in that manner."

Ellis turned from her with disdain, and would reply to nothing more; but her pertinacious stay still kept the bosom letter unopened.

Grievously Ellis felt tormented with the prospect of what her reception might be from Mrs. Maple, after such a blight. The buoyant spirit of her first escape, which she had believed no after