“The Earl of Derby was here to-day.  He has asked for Doll’s hand in marriage with his eldest son and heir, Lord James Stanley, and I have granted the request.”

“Indeed,” I responded, with marvellous intelligence.  I could say nothing more, but I thought—­in truth I knew—­that it did not lie within the power of any man in or out of England to dispose of Dorothy Vernon’s hand in marriage to Lord James Stanley.  Her father might make a murderess out of her, but Countess of Derby, never.

Sir George continued, “The general terms of the marriage contract have been agreed upon by the earl and me, and the lawyers will do the rest.”

“What is your feeling in the matter?” I asked aimlessly.

“My feeling?” cried Sir George.  “Why, sir, my feeling is that the girl shall marry Stanley just as soon as arrangements can be made for the wedding ceremony.  The young fellow, it seems, saw Doll at Derby-town the day you came home, and since then he is eager, his father tells me, for the union.  He is coming to see her when I give my permission, and I will send him word at as early a date as propriety will admit.  I must not let them be seen together too soon, you know.  There might be a hitch in the marriage negotiations.  The earl is a tight one in business matters, and might drive a hard bargain with me should I allow his son to place Doll in a false position before the marriage contract is signed.”  He little knew how certainly Dorothy herself would avoid that disaster.

He took a long draught from his mug of toddy and winked knowingly at me, saying, “I am too wise for that.”

“Have you told Dorothy?” I asked.

“No,” he replied, “I have not exactly told her.  I had a talk with her a few days ago on the subject, though the earl and I had not, at that time, entirely agreed upon the terms, and I did not know that we should agree.  But I told her of the pending negotiations, because I wished to prepare her for the signing of the contract; and also, by gad, Malcolm, I wanted to make the girl understand at the outset that I will have no trifling with my commands in this matter.  I made that feature of the case very plain, you may rest assured.  She understands me fully, and although at first she was a little inclined to fight, she soon—­she soon—­well, she knuckled under gracefully when she found she must.”

“Did she consent to the marriage?” I asked, well knowing that even if she had consented in words, she had no thought of doing so in deed.

“Y-e-s,” returned Sir George, hesitatingly.

“I congratulate you,” I replied.