As she had proposed, Louisa the next day took an early opportunity of mentioning the plan she meant to pursue, and solicited Mrs. Melford to aid her with her advice and recommendation.

Mrs. Melford, who, it appeared, had been apprised of her intention, requested she would give up all thoughts of removing from her for the present.

‘Mr. Melford and I have had some, conversation on that subject,’ replied/ the lady, ‘and we have agreed that it is better on many accounts that you should continue with us: I have very little society, and I think you will be pretty company for me, for I am often very dull when left alone; and as you are a relation of mine, it is, we think, more respectable for you to stay with me than to live with strangers: though you have no fortune, nobody knows what may happen.’

This last remark she added with a significant shrug, and a look she intended should be very arch.

Louisa, though she disliked the idea of being considered in the light of a poor dependant relation of Mrs. Melford's, nevertheless consented to remain with her, at least till she recovered from the state of weakness in which her violent indisposition had left her.

As soon as Louisa recovered from the fatigue of her journey, and was able to compose her spirits for the occasion,/ she wrote to Lady Stanley to inform her of her change of situation, as she still entertained a faint idea that she was unacquainted with her loss. She also wrote to Miss Stanley, and gently hinted the pain she had suffered in being apparently forgotten by friends so dear to her as they were.

To those letters she received answers that were more distressing than her worst surmises had led her to fear.