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acquainted with Sir Henry during the lifetime of his first wife.But conscience was busy with the second Lady Glyndon, as Mrs. Filmer ’s speech called up before her the image of the first LadyGlyndon, sad, spiritless, and deserted, while she was playing thepart now performed by Miss Tresilian, and parading the truanthusband in every society that she frequented; nay, she felt thatshe had been far more blameable than her rival, for her abilitieswere superior to those of Miss Tresilian, and she had possessedthe advantage of a steady and faithful counsellor in KatherineAlford. She laid her poor aching head on her embroidered sofa-cushion, and burst into a convulsive flood of tears.
“ Come, dear Lady Glyndon,” said the officious visitor, whobegan to fear that she had gone too far, “ do not give way tolow spirits; you have nothing to blame yourself for, and nodoubt Sir Henry will repent his folly in a little while, or MissTresilian will marry, and all will come right again.”
A few more sentences passed between the ladies, principallyrelating to “ Pulvermacher’s Electro-Voltaic Chain,” and Mrs. Filmer took her departure, soon to be succeeded by a verydifferent visitor.
Katherine Alford, now Mrs. Stanton, was in London with herhusband for a few weeks. Katherine was a happy wife, and thefive years which had wrought so lamentable a change in Laurahad rather improved her appearance; her countenance retainedits serenity, and had acquired an expression of cheerfulness, inwhich it was once deficient. Katherine was well acquaintedwith her friend’s trials and troubles, she had been the sym-pathising hearer of her sorrows during her frequent visits toLondon , and on one occasion Katherine had even dared thedifficult task of remonstrating with Sir Henry on his neglect ofhis suffering wife. Sir Henry met her remarks with the coolestand most imperturbable good-breeding.
“ He must confess he was somewhat surprised that Mrs.