to word the invitation that he should be induced to remain away.  ‘It is all papa’s doing,’ she said; ’and I am glad that he should like to have people here.  I have asked the Finns with whom papa seems to have made up everything.  Mr Warburton will be here of course, and I think Mr Moreton is coming.  He seems to think that a certain amount of shooting ought to be done.  Then I have invited Lady Mabel Grex and Miss Cassewary,—­all of course of papa’s choosing, and the Boncassens.  Now you will know whether the set will suit you.  Papa particularly begged that you will come,—­apparently because of Lady Mabel.  I don’t know what all that means.  Perhaps you do.  As I like Lady Mabel, I hope she will come.’  Surely Silverbridge would not run himself into the jaws of the lion.  When he heard that he was specially expected by his father to come to Matching in order that he might make himself agreeable to one young lady, he would hardly venture to come, seeing that he would be bound to make love to another young lady!

To Mary’s great horror, all the invitations were accepted.  Mr and Mrs Finn were quite at the Duke’s disposal.  That she had expected.  The Boncassens would all come.  This was signified by a note from Isabel, which covered four sides of the paper and was full of fun.  But under her signature had been written a few words,—­not in fun,—­ words which Lady Mary perfectly understood.  ’I wonder, I wonder, I wonder!’ Did the Duke when inviting her know anything of his son’s inclinations?  Would he be made to know them now, during this visit?  And what would he say when he did know them?

That the Boncassens would come as a matter of course; but Mary had thought that Lady Mabel would refuse.  She had told Lady Mabel that the Boncassens had been asked, and to her thinking it had not been improbable that the young lady would be unwilling to meet her rival at Matching.  But the invitation was accepted.

But it was her brother’s ready acquiescence which trouble Mary chiefly.  He wrote as though there was no doubt about the matter.  ‘Of course there is a deal of shooting to be done,’ he said, ’and I consider myself bound to look after it.  There ought not to be less than four guns,—­particularly if Warburton is to be one of them.  I like Warburton very much, but I think he shoots badly to ingratiate himself with the governor.  I wonder whether the governor would get leave for Gerald for a week.  He has been sticking to his work like a brick.  If not, would he mind my bringing someone?  You ask the governor and let me know.  I’ll be there on the twentieth.  I wonder whether they’ll let me hear what goes on among them about politics?  I’m sure there is not one of them hates Sir Timothy worse than I do.  Lady Mab is a brick, and I’m glad you have asked her.  I don’t think she’ll come, as she likes shutting herself up at Grex.  Miss Boncassen is another brick.  And if you can manage about Gerald I will say you are a third.’