“Yes; and I suppose that she was the widow of that very old man, the late Earl of Hurstmonceux, who died childless; in fact, she must have been.”

“I wonder whatever became of her?”

“I do not know; I know nothing whatever about the last Countess of Hurstmonceux; but I know very well who has a fair prospect of becoming the next Countess of Hurstmonceux, if She pleases!” replied Mr. Middleton, with a merry glance at his niece.

Claudia, who had been a silent, thoughtful, and attentive listener to their conversation, did not reply, but smothered a sigh and turned to look out of the window.  The carriage was just drawing up before their own gate.

The whole face of the house was closed and darkened except one little light that burned in a small front window at the very top of the house.

It was Ishmael’s lamp; and, as plainly as if she had been in the room, Claudia in imagination saw the pale young face bent studiously over the volume lying open before him.

With another inward sigh Claudia gave her hand to her uncle, who had left the carriage to help her out.  And then the whole party entered the house, where they were admitted by sleepy Jim.

And in another half hour they were all in repose.

CHAPTER LIII.

THE VISCOUNT VINCENT.

  A king may make a belted knight,
    A marquis, duke and a’ that,
  But an honest man’s aboon his might
    Gude faith he mauna fa’ that! 
  For a’ that and a’ that,
    Their dignities and a’ that,
  The pith o’ sense and pride o’ worth
    Are higher ranks than a’ that.

  —­Robert Burns.

The next morning Ishmael and Bee, the only hard workers in the family, were the first to make their appearance in the breakfast room.  They had both been up for hours—­Ishmael in the library, answering letters, and Bee in the nursery, seeing that the young children were properly washed, dressed, and fed.  And now, at the usual hour, they came down, a little hungry, and impatient for the morning meal.  But for some time no one joined them.  All seemed to be sleeping off the night’s dissipation.  Bee waited nearly an hour, and then said: 

“Ishmael, I will not detain you longer.  I know that you wish to go to the courthouse, to watch the Emerson trial; so I will ring for breakfast.  Industrious people must not be hindered by the tardiness of lazy ones,” she added, with a smile, as she put her hand to the bell-cord.

Ishmael was about to protest against the breakfast being hurried on his account, when the matter was settled by the entrance of Judge Merlin, followed by Mr. Middleton and Claudia.  After the morning salutations had passed, the judge said: 

“You may ring for breakfast, Claudia, my dear.  We will not wait for your aunt, since your uncle tells us that she is too tired to rise this morning.”