Tempest and Sunshine

The next day at dinner Stanton and Raymond took their seats at Mrs.

Crane's table. To Raymond's great delight Mrs. Carrington sat opposite

him. Stanton occupied Dr. Lacey's seat, which brought Fanny directly in

front of him. Fanny had been prepared in a measure for the striking

resemblance between Stanton and Dr. Lacey; but when she was introduced to

him, his looks brought Dr. Lacey so forcibly before her that she instantly

grew pale and half wished to leave the room. But a look from Mrs. Miller

reassured her, and she took her accustomed place at the table.

Ere dinner was over she had forgotten for the time her lover's neglect,

and was in the midst of an animated conversation with Stanton, who was

much pleased with his cousin's choice. Stanton's looks and manners were so

much like Dr. Lacey's that Fanny felt herself irresistibly drawn toward

him and her face assumed a brighter aspect than it had worn for many days.

Julia watched her closely and felt that nothing could please her better

than a flirtation between Stanton and her sister.

But such was not a part of Fanny's intentions. She liked Stanton because

he was agreeable, intelligent and Dr. Lacey's cousin; but she would sooner

have parted with her right hand than have done anything inconsistent with

her engagement with Dr. Lacey. On the other hand, Stanton's heart was too

strongly fortified with Nellie's charms to admit of an entrance to the

gentle Fanny. But he admired her very much, and seemed to think that she

had some claim upon him in the absence of his cousin.

Thus, as days went on, his polite attentions toward Fanny increased, and

Julia resolved to make this fact work for the accomplishment of her

designs.