‘But what?’

‘You like Mabel, do you not?  I do.’

‘I like her very, very much.’

‘Perhaps you have liked her too well for that, eh, Frank?’

‘Too well for what?’

’That she should have heard all that I had to say about you with sympathy.  If so, I am sorry.’

’You need not fear that I have ever for a moment been untrue to either her or you.’

’I am sure you have not to me.  Poor Mabel!  Then they took me to Custins.  That was the worst of all.  I cannot quite tell you what happened there.’  Of course he asked her,—­but as she had said, she could not quite tell him about Lord Popplecourt.

The next morning the Duke asked his guest in a playful tone what was his Christian name.  It could hardly be that he should not have known, but yet he asked the question.

‘Francis Oliphant,’ said Tregear.

‘Frank,’ whispered Mary, who was with them.

’Then I will call you Frank, if you will allow me.  The use of Christian names is, I think, pleasant and hardly common enough among us.  I almost forget my own boy’s name because the practice has grown up of calling him by a title.’

‘I am going to call him Abraham,’ said Isabel.

’Abraham is a good name, only I do not think he got it from his godfathers and godmothers.’

’Who can call a man Plantagenet?  I should as soon think of calling my father-in-law Coeur de Lion.’

‘So he is,’ said Mary.  Whereupon the Duke kissed the two girls and went his way,—­showing that by this time he had adopted the one and the proposed husband of the other into his heart.

The day before the Duke had started for London to be present at the grand marriage he sent for Frank.  ‘I suppose,’ said he, ’that you would wish that some time should be fixed for your own marriage.’  To this the accepted suitor of course assented.  ’But before we can do that something must be settled about—­money.’  Tregear when he heard this became hot all over, and felt that he could not restrain his blushes.  Such must be the feeling of a man when he finds himself compelled to own to a girl’s father that he intends to live upon her money and not upon his own.  ’I do not like to be troublesome,’ continued the Duke, ’or to ask questions which might seem to be impertinent.’

’Oh no!  Of course I feel my position.  I can only say that it was not because of your daughter might probably have money that I first sought her love.’

’It shall be so received.  And now—­But perhaps it will be best that you should arrange all this with my man of business.  Mr Morton shall be instructed.  Mr Morton lives near my place in Barsetshire, but is now in London.  If you will call on him he shall tell you what I would suggest.  I hope you will find that your affairs will be comfortable.  And now as to time.’