‘But I did,—­not particularly,’ said Lord Silverbridge.  The door was opened and Mr Boncassen entered the room.  ’I beg your pardon for coming at such a time,’ said the lover, ’but I did so want to see Isabel.’

‘I rather thinks she wants to see you,’ said the father.

‘I shall go to the theatre after her.’

’That might be awkward,—­particularly as I doubt whether anybody knows what theatre they are gone to.  Can I receive a message for her, my lord?’ This was certainly not what Lord Silverbridge had intended.  ‘You know, perhaps, that I have seen the Duke?’

‘Oh yes;—­I have seen him.  Everything is settled.’

’That is the only message she will want to hear when she comes home.  She is a happy girl and I am proud to think that I should live to call such a grand young Briton as you my son-in-law.’  Then the American took the young man’s two hands and shook them cordially, while Mrs Boncassen bursting into tears insisted on kissing him.

‘Indeed she is a happy girl,’ said she; ’but I hope Isabel won’t be carried away too high and mighty.’

CHAPTER 72

Carlton Terrace

Three days after this it was arranged that Isabel should be taken to Carlton Terrace to be accepted there into the full good graces of her future father-in-law, and to go through the pleasant ceremony of seeing the house which it was her destiny to be mistress.  What can be more interesting to a girl than this first visit to her future home?  And now Isabel Boncassen was to make her first visit to the house In Carlton Terrace, which the Duke had already declared his purpose of surrendering to the young couple.  She was going among very grand things,—­so grand that those whose affairs in life are less magnificent may think that her mind should have soared altogether above the chairs and tables, and reposed itself among diamonds, gold and silver ornaments, rich necklaces, the old masters, and alabaster statuary.  But Dukes and Duchesses must sit upon chairs,—­or at any rate on sofas,—­as well as their poorer brethren, and probably have the same regard for their comfort.  Isabel was not above her future furniture, or the rooms that were to be her rooms, or the stairs which she would have to tread, or the pillow on which her head must rest.  She had never yet seen the outside of the house in which she was to live, and was now prepared to make her visit with as much enthusiasm as though her future abode was to be prepared for her in a small house in a small street beyond Islington.