forfeited all claim to her obedience, and that she ought to proceed
as if in fact an orphan, and secure herself from being harassed by
him, by hastening her marriage. Of this she would not hear, and she
was exceedingly grateful to Louis for abstaining from pressing her,
as well as for writing to Mr. Ponsonby in terms against which no
exception could be taken.

Till secure of his consent, she would not consider her engagement as
more than conditional, nor consent to its being mentioned to any one.
If Isabel knew it, that was James's fault. Even the Faithfull
sisters were kept in ignorance; and she trusted thus to diminish the
wrong that she felt her secrecy to be doing to Aunt Melicent, who was
so much vexed and annoyed at her return, that she dreaded exceedingly
the effect of the knowledge of her engagement. Miss Ponsonby was
convinced that the news had been exaggerated, and insisted that but
for Lord Ormersfield's dislike, it would have been further sifted;
and she wrote to Mary to urge her coming to her to await the full
tidings, instead of delaying among her father's avowed enemies.

Mary settled this point by mentioning her promise to Mrs. Frost to
remain with her until her grandchildren should be with her; and Miss
Ponsonby's correspondence ceased after a dry, though still kind
letter, which did not make Mary more willing to bestow her
confidence, but left her feeling in her honest heart as if she were
dealing insincerely by Aunt Melicent.

The discretion and reserve rendered requisite by the concealment were
such as to be very tormenting even to so gentle a temper as that of
Louis, since they took from him all the privileges openly granted to
the cousin, and scarcely left him those of the friend. She, on whose