"I understand, my dear boy."

"But how? How did you find out? Was it only that you knew she was
the precious darling of my heart? and now you see and own why,"
cries Frank, almost beside himself with excitement and delight.

"It was Lady Tyrrell who told me," said Mrs. Poynsett, sympathizing
too much with the lovers to perceive that her standpoint of
resistance was gone from her.

"Yes," said Lenore. "She knew of our walk, and questioned me so
closely that I could not conceal anything without falsehood."

"After she met me at Aucuba Villa?" asked Frank.

"Yes. Did you tell her anything?"

"I thought she knew more than I found afterwards that she did," said
Frank; "but there's no harm done. It is all coming now."

"She told my father," said Eleonora, sadly, "and he cannot
understand our delay. He is grieved and displeased, and thinks I
have not been open with him."

"Oh! that will be all right to-morrow," said Frank. "I'll have it
out with a free heart, now there's no fear but that I have passed;
and I've got the dearest of mothers! I feel as if I could meet him
if he were a dozen examiners rolled into one, instead of the good
old benevolent parent that he is! Ha! Anne--Susan--Jenkins--thank
you--that's splendid! May I have it here? Super-excellent! Only