James went backwards and forwards in stormy happiness. He had come
to a comfortable understanding with old Mr. Mansell, who had treated
him with respect and cordiality from the first, giving him to
understand that Isabel's further expectations only amounted to a
legacy of a couple of thousands on his own death, and that meantime
he had little or no hope of helping him in his profession. He spoke
of Isabel's expensive habits, and the danger of her finding it
difficult to adapt herself to a small income; and though, of course,
he might as well have talked to the wind as to either of the lovers,
his remonstrance was so evidently conscientious as not to be in the
least offensive, and Mr. Frost Dynevor was graciously pleased to
accept him as a worthy relation.

All was smooth likewise with Lady Conway. She and Mr. Mansell
outwardly appeared utterly unconscious of each other's proceedings,
remained on the most civil terms, and committed their comments and
explanations to Mrs. Mansell, who administered them according to her
own goodnatured, gossiping humour, and sided with whichever was
speaking to her. There was in Lady Conway much kindness and good-
humour, always ready to find satisfaction in what was inevitable, and
willing to see all at ease and happy around her--a quality which she
shared with Louis, and which rendered her as warm and even caressing
to 'our dear James' as if he had been the most welcome suitor in the
world; and she often sincerely congratulated herself on the
acquisition of a sensible gentleman to consult on business, and so
excellent a brother for Walter. It was not falsehood, it was real
amiability; and it was an infinite comfort in the courtship,
especially the courtship of a Pendragon. As to the two young
sisters, their ecstasy was beyond description, only alloyed by the