into your affairs. I would have trusted you anywhere; but when it
comes round to me that you have been sending a private messenger to
one of the young gentlemen there, I don't know what to be at! I
would not believe Mrs. Mansell at first; but I saw the boy, and he
said you had sent him yourself. My dear, you may mean, very rightly
-I am sure you do, but you must not set people talking! It is not
acting rightly by me, Isabel; but I would not care for that, if it
were acting rightly by yourself.' And he gazed at her with a
piteous, perplexed expression.

'Let me call mamma,' said Isabel.

'As you will, my dear, but cannot you let the simple truth come out
between you and your own blood-relation, without all her words to
come between? Can't you, Isabel? I am sure you and I shall
understand each other.'

'That we shall,' replied Isabel, warmly. 'I have given her no
promise. Dear Mr. Mansell, I have wished all along that you should
know that I am engaged, with her full consent, to Mr. Frost Dynevor.'

'To the little black tutor!' cried Mr. Mansell, recoiling, but
recollecting himself. 'I beg your pardon, my dear, he may be a very
good man, but what becomes of all this scrambling over barricades
with the young Lord?'

Isabel described the true history of her engagement; and it was
received with a long, low whistle, by no means too complimentary.

'And what makes him come and hide in holes and corners, if this is