"Really !"I exclaimed, "do you mean to say - "

"I expect she will have them married before they know it - Agatha's
dreadfully determined. Her character lies in her nose and chin."

"But Lisbeth is not a child - she has a will of her own, and - "

"True," nodded the Duchess, "but is it a match for Agatha's chin?
And then, too, it is rather more than possible that you are become
the object of her bitterest scorn by now.

"But, my dear Duchess - "

"Oh, Agatha is a born diplomat. Of course she has written before
this, and without actually saying it has managed to convey the fact
that you are a monster of perfidy; and Lisbeth, poor child, is
probably crying her eyes out, or imagining she hates you, is ready
to accept the first proposal she receives out of pure pique."

"Great heavens!" I exclaimed, "what on earth can I do?"

"You might go fishing," the Duchess suggested thoughtfully.

"Fishing!" I repeated, " - er, to be sure, but - "

"Riverdale is a very pretty place they tell me," pursued the
Duchess in the same thoughtful tone; "there is a house there, a
fine old place called Fane Court. It stands facing the river,
and adjoins Selwyn Park, I believe."