her cousin Frank should find himself unable to keep an appointment. Nor
would there be fair ground for permanent anger with such a one, even
should he forget an appointment. But surely he would come on the Sunday!
She had been quite sure that the offer was about to be made when that
odious old harridan had come in and disturbed everything. Indeed, the
offer had been all but made. She had felt the premonitory flutter, had
asked herself the important question, and had answered it. She had told
herself that the thing would do. Frank was not the exact hero that her
fancy had painted, but he was sufficiently heroic. Everybody said that he
would work his way up to the top of the tree, and become a rich man. At
any rate she had resolved; and then Lady Linlithgow had come in! Surely he
would come on the Sunday.

He did not come on the Sunday, but Lord Fawn did come. Immediately after
morning church Lord Fawn declared his intention of returning at once from
Fawn Court to town. He was very silent at breakfast, and his sisters
surmised that he was still angry with poor Lucy. Lucy, too, was unlike
herself, was silent, sad, and oppressed. Lady Fawn was serious, and almost
solemn; so that there was little even of holy mirth at Fawn Court on that
Sunday morning. The whole family, however, went to church, and immediately
on their return Lord Fawn expressed his intention of returning to town.
All the sisters felt that an injury had been done to them by Lucy. It was
only on Sundays that their dinner-table was graced by the male member of
the family, and now he was driven away. "I am sorry that you are going to
desert us, Frederic," said Lady Fawn. Lord Fawn muttered something as to
absolute necessity, and went. The afternoon was very dreary at Fawn Court.
Nothing was said on the subject; but there was still the feeling that Lncy
had offended. At four o'clock on that Sunday afternoon Lord Fawn was
closeted with Lady Eustace.