entanglement. There are some Miss Mosses--'

'Oh, it is that kind of thing!' said she, in an altered tone, her
cheeks glowing; 'it is very silly of him to get himself talked about;
but of course it is all nothing.'

'I wish I could think so,' said Mr. Wingfield; 'but, indeed, Miss
Martindale,' for she was returning to the children, 'I am afraid it is
a serious matter. The father is a designing person.'

'Arthur will not be taken in,' was her first calm answer; but
perceiving the curate unconvinced, though unwilling to contradict, she
added, 'But what is the story?'

Mr. Wingfield produced the letter and read; 'Fanshawe, the curate of
Wrangerton, has just been with me, telling me his rector is in much
difficulty and perplexity about a son of your parishioner, Lord
Martindale. He came to Wrangerton with another guardsman for the sake
of the fishing, and has been drawn into an engagement with one of the
daughters of old Moss, who manages the St. Erme property. I know
nothing against the young ladies, indeed Fanshawe speaks highly of
them; but the father is a disreputable sort of attorney, who has taken
advantage of Lord St. Erme's absence and neglect to make a prey of the
estate. The marriage is to take place immediately, and poor Mr. Jones
is in much distress at the dread of being asked to perform the
ceremony, without the consent of the young man's family.'

'He cannot do it,' exclaimed the young lady; 'you had better write and
tell him so.'