's generous offer of his hand and heart. Mary had quite made up her mind that the whole thing was to be regarded as a folly, and that it was not t

ner man, the inner woman, the naked creature animated by a living soul; that all other adjuncts were but man's clothing for the creature; all others, whether stitched by tailors or contrived by kings. Was it not within her capacity to do as nobly, to love as truly, to worship her God in heaven with as perfect a faith, and her god on earth with as leal a troth, as though blood had descended to her purely through scores of pure

forth armed to do battle against the world's prej

out her heart to Beatrice Gresham with all the girlish volubility of an equal? Was she to be severed from Patience Oriel, and banished - or rathe

uently, unless when it chanced that any of the De Courcy girls were at the house. Was this to be given up? These feelings had grown up among them since they were children, a

foot; when she drove the Lady Margaretta out of the room, and gave her own opinion as to the proper grammatical construction of the word humble

her talk to him;' and then, not long afterwards, she saw that Patience did talk to him; and seeing it, she walke

od was as good as his own? Had she not seen at a glance that his love tirade was worthy of ridicule, and of no other notice? And yet there was a tear now in her eye because this boy, whom sh

nd her sharp ear could also hear, when Lady Margaretta left them, that Frank's voice became low and tender. So s

of the gardens, and near also to a wicket-gate which led out into the village, and which could be opened from the inside, was a seat, under a big yew-tree, from which, through a breach in the houses, might be see

- that she did not hate Patience Oriel at all; that she liked her, nay, loved her; that Patience Oriel was a sweet girl; and that she hoped the time would come when she might see her the lady of Greshamsbury. And then the tear, which had been no whit controlled, which indeed had now

to her, at the little gate. They wer

nds. 'You will excuse a lecture, won't you, from so old a friend?- th

Frank. 'I will excuse a long

disappeared. 'And if you see Mary, tell her that I am ob

e doctor's ancie

or, and then began walking rapidly back to the house by the path which had brought her thither. The moment, h

e quite overtook her, 'how odd that I should come across you

still there; and she well knew that a very little, the slightest show of tenderness on his part, the slightest effort on her own to appear indifferent, would bring down more than one other such intruder. It would, moreover, be better for her

ged to go away to see an

e back all night. Why could not t

two old women could not

g off so late on such a journey; but it was always felt a tr

told him it was quite unnecessary to disturb an

ham; indeed you'

nd indeed,

you. I suppose you want to set the countess against me for ever. Think, too,

would think that you were goi

aps I

some of the other fellows

cy either of the Mr De Cou

gainst the De Courcy grandeur; she had forgotten herself, and had called him Frank in her old, former, eager, free tone of voice;

m, or I,' said Frank: 'perhaps you w

hat with her I should not suffer the extre

! Mary,

alk home through the mud with village young

re were you would not be

er care for such things, thou

would do you a service,' said Frank,

should not like it at all,' said she: 'a

would be preferable

f I were to act baby; and you were to act nurse, i

ly or unkindly; but, nevertheless, he was displeased. One does not like to have one's little offerings of sentimental service turned into burlesque when one is in love in earnest. Mary's jokes had

with great sorrow and much shame. Since that he had come of age; since that he had made speeches, and speeches had been made to him; since that he had gained courage by flirting with Patience Oriel. N

the spot where it broke out upon the lawn, and they could alrea

not you retaliate. I am weaker than you, and in y

all the people here at Greshamsbury, you are the o

kly put out her ungloved hand. 'You are quite man enough to understand m

friend in such a case; and then - did not drop it as he should have done. He was not a

y! dearest Mary! if you di

erefore, did not at first see his sister Augusta, who had just at that moment come upon them. Mary blushed up to her

mine: in no part hers. Were I possessed of a quick spasmodic style of narrative, I should have been able to include it all - Frank's misbehaviour, Mary's immediate anger, Augusta's arrival, and keen, Argus-eyed inspection, and the

as too late, the step on the gravel, turned sharply round

nger of any such encounters as that she just now had beheld; she could not but start at seeing her brother thus, on the very brink of the precipice of which the countess had specially forewarned her mother. She, Augusta, was, as she well knew, doing her duty by her family by marrying a tailor's son for whom she did not care a chip, seeing that the tailor's son

d look in that way?' Frank had hitherto been rather a despot among his sisters, and forgot that

ved. 'Aunt De Courcy wants to see you immediately in the small drawing-room;' and, as she said so, s

Well, Mary, we may as well go togeth

will be angry if you keep her waiting. She has been expecting

ere uttered, which made Mary at once draw herself up. 'I hope,' sai

ort to Mary; he perceived that the De Courcy blood in Augusta's veins was already rebelling against the d

; 'but look here Augusta, i

cks and trousers in getting through the same hedge together? Oh, Frank! Frank! you, the full-blown heir of Greshamsbury? You, a man already endowed with a man's discretion? You, the forward

y one word

tined to proceed. Mary's indignation flashed upon him, striking him dumb long before the sound of her voic

please? I must tell you all now, Augusta! and I must also beg you not to be silent for my sake.

d Frank, deprecat

d tell your sister all. He has now twice thought it well to amuse himse

atured

her wounds, that flirtation of his with Patience Oriel; 'but to me it is almost cruel. Another girl might laugh at him, or listen to him, as he would choose; but I can do neither. I shall now ke

t her at this moment, she would almost have felt herself forced to shrink out of the pathway. 'Not say a word

When his first surprise at Mary's great anger was over, he felt himself called upon to say some

r; 'but of me, you may tell this, if you choose to disoblige your brother - tha

said in a voice, now low enough, 'I cannot prevent him from talking nonsense, Augusta; but you will bear me witness, that I do not wi

ndeavoured to induce her to give him a promise that sh

nsense,' she had said; 'and you shou

ds; don't let us quarrel just when you are going

aware that there was some peculiar gravity attached to the coming interview. Three persons, his mother, one of his younger sisters, and the Lady Amelia, each stoppe

prepared for him opposite to the elbow of the sofa on which she was leaning. She had a small table before her, on wh

oughly suitable to the importance of the c

t such was the case, and added that '

ave been glad to see such an occasion noticed at Gre

hink we did it

ny rate ought to be, the seat of

there isn't a better fellow tha

is no use now,' said she, 'looking back to that which cannot be cured. The first commoner

and a bystander might have thought that

l of very paramount importance. Of course

ich his aunt's ambition rested; for Lord Porlock's youthful career

ess plumed herself; but the mother sighed. '

m very much obliged. I sha

ear boy, is not now

t?' aske

a word against your father. It may, perhaps ha

Frank to himself; resolving to stick bravely to the

all; Greshamsbury is not what it was. It is you

aid Frank, r

on you now. Of course you know that y

shape reached his ear that his father was no

expected that Boxall Hill shall be purchased, a

at's Sca

ht back: but it will be your duty, Frank, to pay all the debts that there are on

he were in her right mind. He pay off the family debts! He buy up property of four thousan

ourse you un

just at the present moment he did n

ood one; but your father has unfortunately so hampered you with regard to money, that unless you

rst time that in all probability Mary Thorne's

emands it; and luckily for you, no man can have more facili

d like a gir

so early an age, you are not of course hampered

e old girl knows about it!' felt a little proud of his passio

ng up the list of Frank's advantages to its greatest climax, 'will make the

much obliged he felt to Co

underhand way, Frank; but I will tell you what has occu

f the ointment

ice her nephew's allusion to the ointment. 'Quite immense when compared with the wants and any po

ave to read for my degree like anyt

u of your prospects in life, of your future position, of tha

must take his degree, and that he should comme

s aunt, who knew the expediency of yielding occasionally; 'but I must beg you will come over and m

s she?' as

d the countess; 'but it is not, I

o looked upon an unmarried woman

said the countess, who regarded the subj

oud, but speaking, neverth

e country; if you wish to represent your county in Parliament, as has been done by your father, your grandfather, and your great-grandfathers; if you wish to keep a house over your head, and to leave Greshamsbury t

table. How could he, indeed, seeing that his troth was already plighted to Mary Thorne in the presence of his sister? This circumsta

r to postpone the question till the season's hunting should be over; he declared that he could not visit Courcy Castle till he got a new suit o

sons were sufficiently potent to

fly-fishing when the property of Greshamsbury is at stake. Y

criminal might make his ejaculation on hearing that a ve

Dunstable, come on Thursday. I am quite sure you will like Miss Dunstable. I have settled al

rture, and went out to look for Mary. But Mary had gone home with Ja

'I am to go to Cour

eard ma

But I tell you what, I won't stay above a week at Courcy Castle for all the De C