grief of losing Isabel, and this greatly mitigated by schemes of
visits to Northwold.

The marriage was fixed for the end of November, so as to give time
for a little tranquillity before the commencement of James's new
duties. As soon as this intelligence arrived, Mrs. Frost removed
herself, Mary, and her goods into the House Beautiful, that No. 5
might undergo the renovations which, poor thing! had been planned
twenty years since, when poor Henry's increasing family and growing
difficulties had decided her that she could 'do without them' one
year more.

'Even should Miss Conway not like to keep house with the old woman,'
said she, by way of persuading herself she had no such expectation,
'it was her duty to keep the place in repair.'

That question was soon at rest: Isabel would be but too happy to be
allowed to share her home, and truly James would hardly have attached
himself to a woman who could not regard it as a privilege to be with
the noble old lady. Clara was likewise to be taken home; Isabel
undertook to complete her education, and school and tuition were both
to be removed from the contemplation of the happy girl, whose letters
had become an unintelligible rhapsody of joy and affection.

Isabel had three thousand pounds of her own, which, with that
valuable freehold, Dynevor Terrace, James resolved should be settled
on herself, speaking of it with such solemn importance as to provoke
the gravity of those accustomed to deal with larger sums. With the
interest of her fortune he meant to insure his life, that, as he told
Louis, with gratified prudence, there might be no repetition of his