the grammar-school!--it cannot be worth 300 pounds a year.'

'Isabel is satisfied. She never desired anything but a quiet,
simple, useful life.'

'Your Aunt Catharine delighted, of course? No doubt of that; but
what has come to Lady Conway?'

'She cannot help it, and makes the best of it. She gave us very
little trouble.'

'Ah! her own daughter is growing up,' said the Earl, significantly.

'Isabel is very fond of Northwold,' said Mary, feeling that Louis was
wanting her sympathy. 'She used to wish she could settle there--with
how little consciousness!'

'If I had to judge in such a case,' said Lord Ormersfield,
thoughtfully, 'I should hesitate to risk a woman's happiness with a
temper such as that of James Frost.'

'Oh, father!' cried Louis, indignantly.

'I suspect,' said Lord Ormersfield, smiling, 'that of late years,
James's temper has been more often displayed towards me than towards
you.'

'A certain proof how safe his wife will be,' returned Louis.

His father shook his head, and looking from one to the other of the