"
"Is Lady Verner likely to think the ironmonger's heiress a good match
for Sir Reginald Eversleigh?" Miss Brewer asked, in a coldly sarcastic
tone.
"How is she to know anything of her origin?" returned Carrington, who
was, however, disconcerted by the question. "She lives a most retired
life; no one but Reginald has any access to her, and he can make her
believe anything he likes."
"That's fortunate," said Miss Brewer, drily; "pray proceed."
"Well, then, you see these points as clearly as I do--the next thing to
be done is to secure Paulina's marriage with Douglas Dale."
"I don't think that needs much securing," said Miss Brewer. "Judging
from his manner before he left town, and from the tone of his letter, I
should think very little encouragement from her would ensure a proposal
of marriage from him."
"And will she give him that encouragement?"
"Undoubtedly--I fully believe she will marry Douglas Dale. She has
certainly learned to despise Sir Reginald Eversleigh, and I think Mr.
Dale has caught her heart in the rebound."
"Have you attended to my instructions about impressing her money
difficulties on her mind--have you made things as bad as possible?"
"Certainly," answered Miss Brewer. "Only this morning I have sent into
her room several pressing and impertinent letters from her
tradespeople, and I put some accounts of the most dispiriting character
before her last night.
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