“My Colonel, papa?  I assure you I lay no claim to him,” said Lady Mabel, hastily disclaiming all interest in poor L’Isle.

“Why do you have him so much about you, then, and quote him so often?”

“Why, my lord,” said Bradshawe, again interposing, “Lady Mabel cannot but see and hear much of L’Isle, while she sees so much of Mrs. Shortridge, their mutual friend.”

Lady Mabel was truly thankful for this diversion.  It gave her one moment to think, and that was enough.  In her father’s present mood, L’Isle could not escape gross insult at their next meeting.  She felt that the best way to molify his anger was to take up his quarrel vigorously herself.  So, warming herself into a fit of indignation becoming the occasion, she exclaimed:  “It is no fault of mine that I see so much of Colonel L’Isle.  Why do you make him so often your guest?  As Colonel Bradshawe says, I have no fit companion here but Mrs. Shortridge, and he is often with her.  As to his presumption, it is not so new to me as you suppose.  I have often laughed at him for his vanity in thinking that nobody can do anything as well as himself.  I have had to check him before this for presuming to find fault with your management of the brigade; but did not imagine he would have the impertinence to insinuate to your face that he could command it better than you do.”

“By Jove!” exclaimed Lord Strathern, “indirectly, he as good as told me so.”

“So it seems,” said Lady Mabel indignantly.  “I am your daughter, and resent such boyish impertinence more even than you do.  I will take the earliest opportunity to express to him my opinion on that point most emphatically.”

Bradshawe was discreetly silent, drinking in every word.  He did not actually hate L’Isle; he liked Lady Mabel well; but he loved the mischief a-brewing, and watched her game, for he saw plainly that she was playing one.  Conway sat wondering what all this would lead to, anxious, yet afraid, to say a word in extenuation of poor L’Isle’s offences.

“By the bye,” exclaimed Lady Mabel, “I have promised Mrs. Shortridge my utmost aid in entertaining her guests to-morrow night; and the better to enable me to give it, Colonel L’Isle is pledged to be in constant attendance as my interpreter.  I must write at once, and let him know that I shall dispense with his services.”

“Write to the fellow at once,” growled Lord Strathern, “and do not let him misunderstand the tenor of your note.”

“But he has gone to Badajoz,” said Bradshawe.  “Still, if he has an appointment with you, Lady Mabel, he will assuredly be back in time.”

“But, my lord,” said Major Conway, “you have an order for him to attend Sir Rowland, at Alcantara the morning after, so that he would have to give up the pleasure of waiting on Lady Mabel at Mrs. Shortridge’s, even though she did not discard him in this summary manner.”

“Then Mabel shall summon him to attend her, according to promise, in spite of Sir Rowland’s order!” thundered Lord Strathern, with all the perverseness of an angry man.