“Oh, I am by no means certified that the woman has wronged me!  I don’t think I should have loved Dick, in any case.”

“Ha!” Lady Capel looked in her granddaughter’s musing face, and then, with a chuckle, hobbled to the bell and rang for her maid.  “You are very prudent, child, but I am not one that any woman can deceive.  I know all the tricks of the sex.  Oh, heavens! what a grand thing to be two and twenty, with a kind husband to manage, and lovers bowing and begging at your shoe-ties!  Well, well, I had my day; and, thank the fools, I did some mischief in it!  Yes, there were eight duels fought for me; and while Somers and Scrope were wetting their swords in the quarrel, I was dancing with Jack Capel.  Jack told me that night he would make me marry him; and when I slapped his cheek with my fan, he took my hands in a rage, and swore I should do it that hour.  And, faith, he mastered me!  Your grandfather Capel had a dreadful temper, Arabella.”

“I have heard that Cousin Dick Hyde has a temper too.”

“Dick is vain; and you can make a vain man stand on his head, or go down on his knees, if you only vow that he performs the antics better than any other human creature.  The town will fling itself at Dick Hyde’s feet, and Dick will fling himself at yours.  Mind what I say; my prophecies always come true, Arabella, for I never expect sinners to be saints, my dear.”

And during the next six months Lady Capel found plenty of opportunities for complimenting herself upon her own penetration.  Society made an idol of Capt.  Hyde; and if he was not at Lady Arabella’s feet, he was certainly very constantly at her side.  As to his marriage, it was a topic of constant doubt and dispute.  The clubs betted on the subject.  In the ball-rooms and the concert-rooms, the ladies positively denied it; and Lady Arabella’s smile and shrug were of all opinions the most unsatisfactory and bewildering.  Some, indeed, admitted the marriage, but averred, with a meaning emphasis, that madam was on the proper side of the Atlantic.  Others were certain that Hyde had brought his wife to England, but felt himself obliged, on account of her great beauty, to keep her away from the conquering heroes of London society.  It was a significant index to Hyde’s real character, that not one of his associates ever dared to be familiar enough to ask him for the truth on a question so delicately personal.

“Hyde is exactly the man to invite me to meet him in Marylebone Fields for the answer,” said a young officer, who had been urged to make inquiries because he was on familiar terms with his comrade.  “If it comes to a matter of catechism, gentlemen, I’ll bet ten to one that none of you ask him two consecutive questions regarding the American lady.”