But at the same time the Duke was arranging his autumn movements, or at any rate those of his daughter.  Lady Cantrip had told him that the desirable son-in-law had promised to go to Custins, and suggested that he and Mary should also be there.  In his daughter’s name he promised, but he would not bind himself.  Would it not be better that he should be absent?  Now that the doing of the thing was brought nearer to him so that he could see and feel its details, he was disgusted by it.  And yet it had answered so well with his wife!

‘Is Lord Popplecourt intimate with her?’ Lady Mabel asked her friend, Lord Silverbridge.

‘I don’t know.  I am not.’

‘Lady Cantrip seems to think a great deal about him.’

‘I daresay.  I don’t.’

‘Your father seems to like him.’

’That’s possible too.  They’re going back to London together in the governor’s carriage.  My father will talk high politics all the way, and Popplecourt will agree with everything.’

‘He isn’t intended to—­to—?  You know what I mean.’

‘I can’t say that I do.’

‘To cut out poor Frank.’

‘It is quite possible.’

‘Poor Frank!’

’You had a great deal better say poor Popplecourt!-or poor governor, or poor Lady Cantrip.’

’But a hundred countesses can’t make your sister marry a man she doesn’t like.’

‘Just that.  They don’t go the right way about it.’

‘What would you do?’

’Leave her alone.  Let her find out gradually that what she wants can’t be done.’

‘And so linger on for years,’ said Lady Mabel reproachfully.

‘I say nothing about that.  The man is my friend.’

‘And you ought to be proud of him.’

’I never knew anybody yet who was proud of his friends.  I like him well enough, but I can quite understand that the governor should object.’

‘Yes, we all know that,’ said she sadly.

’What would your father say if you wanted to marry someone who hadn’t a shilling?’

’I should object myself,—­without waiting for my father.  But then,—­ neither have I a shilling.  If I had money, do you think I wouldn’t like to give it to the man I loved?’

’But this is a case of giving somebody else’s money.  They won’t make her give it up by bringing such a young ass as that down here.  If my father has persistency enough to let her cry her eyes out, he’ll succeed.’

‘And break her heart.  Could you do that?’

‘Certainly not.  But then I’m soft.  I can’t refuse.’

‘Can’t you?’

‘Not if the person who asks me is in my good books.  You try me.’

‘What shall I ask for?’

‘Anything.’

‘Give me the ring off your finger,’ she said.  He at once took it off his hand.  ’Of course you know I am in joke.  You don’t imagine that I would take it from you.’  He still held it towards her.  ’Lord Silverbridge, I expect that with you I may say a foolish thing without being brought to sorrow by it.  I know that that ring belonged to your great uncle,—­and to fifty Pallisers before.’