‘I hate to hear you talk of yourself in that way.’

’Because you have enough of the old school about you to like conventional falsehood.  This young man did in fact ask me to be his wife.  Of course I meant to accept him,—­but I didn’t.  Then comes this convict’s granddaughter.’

‘Not a convict’s!’

’You know what I mean.  Had he been a convict it would have been all the same.  I take upon myself to say that, had the world been informed that an alliance had been arranged between the eldest son of the Duke of Omnium and the daughter of Earl Grex,—­the world would have been satisfied.  Every unmarried daughter of every peer in England would have envied me,—­but it would have been comme il faut.’

‘Certainly, my dear.’

‘But what would be the feeling as to the convict’s granddaughter?’

’You don’t suppose that I would approve it;—­but it seems to me that in these days young men do just as they please.’

’He shall do what he pleases, but he must be made to be pleased with me.’  So much she said to Miss Cassewary; but she did not divulge any plan.  The Boncassens had just gone off to the station, and Silverbridge was out shooting.  If anything could be done here at Matching, it must be done quickly, as Silverbridge would soon take his departure.  She did not know it, but, in truth, he was remaining in order that he might, as he said, ’have all this out with the governor’.

She tried to realise for herself some plan, but when the evening came nothing was fixed.  For a quarter of an hour, just as the sun was setting, the Duke joined her in the gardens,—­and spoke to her more plainly than he had ever spoken before.  ’Has Silverbridge come home?’ he asked.

‘I have not seen him.’

‘I hope you and Mary get on well together.’

’I think so, Duke.  I am sure we should if we saw more of each other.’

’I sincerely hope you may.  There is nothing I wish for Mary so much as that she should have a sister.  And there is no one whom I would be so glad to hear her call by that name as yourself.’  How could he have spoken plainer?

The ladies were all together in the drawing-room when Silverbridge came bursting in rather late.  ‘Where’s the governor?’ he asked, turning to his sister.

‘Dressing I should think; but what is the matter?’

‘I want to see him.  I must be off to Cornwall tomorrow morning.’

‘To Cornwall!’ said Miss Cassewary.  ‘Why to Cornwall?’ asked Lady Mabel.  But Mary, connecting Cornwall with Frank Tregear, held her peace.

’I can’t explain it all now, but I must start very early tomorrow.’  Then he went off to his father’s study, and finding the Duke still there explained the cause of his intended journey.  The member for Polpenno had died, and Frank Tregear had been invited to stand for the borough.  He had written to his friend to ask him to come and assist in the struggle.  ’Years ago there used to be always a Tregear in for Polpenno,’ said Silverbridge.