MADEMOISELLE ANGELA. 169

Marianne looked up from her work for a moments
and fixed her eyes on the lovely face of the actress
and said, “ perhaps they might, but—”

‘“‘Tam curious about you,” interrupted Made-
moiselle Angela; “I have been in Staffordshire—
perhaps I know your friends—where do they live—
tell me ?” she said in a manner so unlike her usual
calmness, that Marianne again looked in her face.
“T once knew some parts of Staffordshire; tell me
who are your friends, and where they live.”

“They live at a small town called Utceter,” said
Marianne ; “their name is K endrick.” ;

The actress rose instantly from her seat, and walked
across the room—she seemed agitated — put her
handkerchief to her face, and then sat down again.

“I told you,” said she, hurriedly, “that I knew
something of Staffordshire, « Utceter I know, but
not your friends. No,” said she, in her usual calm
and simple manner, “ your friends, the Kendricks, I
never knew,”

Marianne ventured a remark which made her
heart tremble. “ There was a Mr. Osborne there,”
she said, “and a young Mr. Williams, his nephew—
but I daresay you never knew them.”

“Ah!” said the actress, with an emotion which
made her cheeks as pale as marble ; “ what of them
—what of young Mr. Williams? Has he been a
false lover of yours 2”

“Oh, no, no?” said Marianne, looking at her in
amazement ; “but oh, Mademoiselle Angela, if you
know anything of him—for he is a rich man now—
for the love of God, do tell him that the old man—
he knows who—is almost in want—would be in want

Q