Blind Love

It was one of Mrs. Vimpany's many merits that she seldom neglected an

opportunity of setting her friends at their ease.

"No, no, dear Miss Henley," she hastened to say; "the inn is really a

more clean and comfortable place than you suppose. A hard bed and a

scarcity of furniture are the worst evils which your friend has to

fear. Do you know," she continued, addressing herself to Mountjoy,

"that I was reminded of a friend of mine, when you spoke just now of

the young gentleman whose adventures are in the newspapers. Is it

possible that you referred to the brother of the present Earl of

Norland? A handsome young Irishman--with whom I first became acquainted

many years since. Am I right in supposing that you and Miss Henley know

Lord Harry?" she asked.

What more than this could an unprejudiced mind require? Mrs. Vimpany

had set herself right with a simplicity that defied suspicion. Iris

looked at Mountjoy. He appeared to know when he was beaten. Having

acknowledged that Lord Harry was the young gentleman of whom he and

Miss Henley had been speaking, he rose to take leave.

After what had passed, Iris felt the necessity of speaking privately to

Hugh. The necessary excuse presented itself in the remote situation of

the inn. "You will never find your way back," she said, "through the

labyrinth of crooked streets in this old town. Wait for me a minute,

and I will be your guide."

Mrs. Vimpany protested. "My dear! let the servant show the way."

Iris held gaily to her resolution, and ran away to her room. Mrs.

Vimpany yielded with her best grace. Miss Henley's motive could hardly

have been plainer to her, if Miss Henley had confessed it herself.

"What a charming girl!" the doctor's amiable wife said to Mountjoy,

when they were alone. "If I were a man, Miss Iris is just the young

lady that I should fall in love with." She looked significantly at

Mountjoy. Nothing came of it. She went on: "Miss Henley must have had

many opportunities of being married; but the right man has, I fear, not

yet presented himself." Once more her eloquent eyes consulted Mountjoy,

and once more nothing came of it. Some women are easily discouraged.

Impenetrable Mrs. Vimpany was one of the other women; she had not done

with Mountjoy yet--she invited him to dinner on the next day.

"Our early hour is three o'clock," she said modestly. "Pray join us. I

hope to have the pleasure of introducing my husband."