quite prepared to cut his acquaintance, and turn her back on him
forever, and now thought she saw her way through the difficulty.

"You are driving my friend L'Isle to the wall," said Major Conway. "I
know him to be a _gallant_ man; but however painful the sacrifice may
be to him, I think he will feel compelled to waive his engagement with
Lady Mabel, and wait on Sir Rowland Hill."

"Let him, if he dare," said Lady Mabel, with an emphatic stamp of her
foot.

"I applaud your spirit, Lady Mabel," said Bradshawe mischievously. "It
is lucky for L'Isle that the Stewarts of Strathern are not now
represented by a son. As it is, L'Isle will have to make his
submission with the best grace he can."

"I trust Lady Mabel will accept it in some other shape than slighting
Sir Rowland's order," said Conway. "L'Isle will not do that."

"That, and nothing else," said Lady Mabel resolutely--almost
angrily. "I hold myself to be quite as good as Sir Rowland, and the
first appointment was with me."

"Sir Rowland will have to yield precedence to you, Lady Mabel," said
Bradshawe. "If L'Isle knows the penalty, he will have to attend on
you."

"Begging Lady Mabel's pardon," said Conway, "L'Isle will do no such
thing."