all with your mamma's good will?'

'Mamma thought you would be displeased; she insisted on taking her
own time for breaking it to you,' said Isabel.

'Was there ever a woman but must have her mystery? Well, I should
have liked him better if he had not given into it!'

'He never did!' said Isabel, indignant enough to disclose in full the
whole arrangement made by Lady Conway's manoeuvres and lax good-
nature. 'I knew it would never do,' she added, 'though I could not
say so before her and Fitzjocelyn. My note was to tell them so: and
look here, Mr. Mansell, this is what Mr. Dynevor had already written
before receiving mine.'

She held it out proudly; and Mr. Manaell, making an unwilling sound
between his teeth, took it from her; but, as he read, his countenance
changed, and he exclaimed, 'Ha! very well! This is something like!
So that's it, is it? You and he would not combine to cheat the old
man, like a pair of lovers in a trumpery novel!'

'No, indeed!' said Isabel, 'that would be a bad way of beginning.'

'Where is the young fellow?--at Ebbscreek, did you say? I'll tell
you what, Isabel,' with his hand on the bell, 'I'll have out the
dogcart this minute, and fetch him home to breakfast, to meet my Lady
when she comes down stairs, if it be only for the sake of showing
that I like plain dealing!'

'Isabel could only blush, smile, look doubtful, and yet so very happy