'Thank you, granny, it is out of the question. If it were as he does
us the honour to imagine, I should be the last person to confess it.
My evidence could be of no service to Fitzjocelyn, when my uncle's
maxim is to place confidence in no one. The sole refutation in my
power is the terms on which we meet.'

'Now, I have vexed you. I wish I had said nothing about it; but when
dear Louis's happiness may depend on his report--'

'If I were base enough to have acted as he supposes, I should be base
enough to deny it. There is not enough to be hoped to make me speak
with unreserve on such a subject.'

He saved himself from saying--to such a man; but the shrewd,
suspicious old bachelor was not an inviting confidant for the
vicissitudes of delicate and tender feelings of such recent date, and
Mrs. Frost reproached herself with asking too much of her proud,
sensitive grandson.

The black gown and trencher cap by no means gratified Oliver, when
James set off to school on Monday morning; but he consoled himself
with observing, 'We shall soon put an end to that.'

'James is quite devoted to the school,' said Isabel, and she was
answered by the dry growl.

'It will be a hard thing to transplant our young people,' said Mrs.
Frost, 'they have managed to be very happy here.'

'So hard of transplantation that I doubt the possibility,' said