himself to Lady Lydiard without another moment of delay.

Having closed the drawing-room door on him, Isabel waited a little,
absorbed in her own thoughts.

She was now perfectly well aware of the effect which she had produced
on Hardyman. Her vanity, it is not to be denied, was flattered by his
admiration--he was so grand and so tall, and he had such fine large
eyes. The girl looked prettier than ever as she stood with her head
down and her color heightened, smiling to herself. A clock on the
chimney-piece striking the half-hour roused her. She cast one look at
the glass, as she passed it, and went to the table at which Lady Lydiard
had been writing.

Methodical Mr. Moody, in submitting to be employed as bath-attendant
upon Tommie, had not forgotten the interests of his mistress. He
reminded her Ladyship that she had left her letter, with a bank-note
inclosed in it, unsealed. Absorbed in the dog, Lady Lydiard answered,
"Isabel is doing nothing, let Isabel seal it. Show Mr. Hardyman in
here," she continued, turning to Isabel, "and then seal a letter of
mine which you will find on the table." "And when you have sealed it,"
careful Mr. Moody added, "put it back on the table; I will take charge
of it when her Ladyship has done with me."

Such were the special instructions which now detained Isabel in the
drawing-room. She lighted the taper, and closed and sealed the open
envelope, without feeling curiosity enough even to look at the address.
Mr. Hardyman was the uppermost subject in her thoughts. Leaving the
sealed letter on the table, she returned to the fireplace, and studied
her own charming face attentively in the looking-glass. The time