"It's my belief that she is over head and ears in debt again. But I'll
learn. And when I have found out, I shall not scruple to tell Frederic.
Orlando will find out all about it." Orlando was the Christian name of
Mrs. Hittaway's husband. "Mr. Camperdown, I have no doubt, knows all the
ins and outs of her story. The long and the short of it is this, mamma,
that I've heard quite enough about Lady Eustace to feel certain that
Frederic would live to repent it."

"But what can we do?" said Lady Fawn.

"Break it off," said Mrs. Hittaway.

Her daughter's violence of speech had a most depressing effect upon poor
Lady Fawn. As has been said, she did believe in Mrs. Hittaway. She knew
that Mrs. Hittaway was conversant with the things of the world, and heard
tidings daily which never found their way down to Fawn Court. And yet her
son went about quite as much as did her daughter. If Lady Eustace was such
a reprobate as was now represented, why had not Lord Fawn heard the truth?
And then she had already given in her own adhesion, and had promised to
call. "Do you mean that you won't go to her?" said Lady Fawn.

"As Lady Eustace? certainly not. If Frederic does marry her, of course I
must know her. That's a different thing. One has to make the best one can
of a bad bargain. I don't doubt they'd be separated before two years were
over."

"Oh, dear, how dreadful!" exclaimed Augusta. Lady Fawn, after much
consideration, was of opinion that she must carry out her intention of
calling upon her son's intended bride in spite of all the evil things that