‘What did Ramsbotham and his set do?’

’They were better than could have been hoped; they gave us their votes when they found their man could not get in.’

’Ha?  As long as that fellow is against Calcott, he cares little whom he supports.  I am sorry that Calcott should be defeated, even for James’s sake.  How did Richardson vote?’

‘He was doubtful at first, but I brought him over.’

Lord Ormersfield gave a quick, searching glance as he said,’ James Frost did not make use of our interest in this matter.’

’Jem never did.  He and my aunt held back, and were unwilling to oppose the Squire.  They would have given it up, but for me.  Father, I never supposed you could be averse to my doing my utmost for Jem, when all his prospects were at stake.’

’I should have imagined that James was too well aware of my sentiments to allow it.’

What a cloud on the happy morning!

Louis eagerly exclaimed:  ’James is the last person to be blamed!  He and my aunt were always trying to stop me, but I would not listen to their scruples.  I knew his happiness depended on his success, and I worked for him, in spite of himself.  If I did wrong, I can only be very sorry; but I cannot readily believe that I transgressed by setting the question before people in a right light.  Only, whose fault soever it was, it was not Jem’s.’

Lord Ormersfield had not the heart to see one error in his son on such a day as this, more especially as Mary peeped out behind the urn to judge of his countenance, and he met her pleading eyes, swimming in tears.

‘No, I find no fault,’ he kindly said.  ’Young, ardent spirits may be excused for outrunning the bounds that their elders might impose.  But you have not removed my amazement.  James intending to marry on the grammar-school!—­it cannot be worth 300 pounds a year.’

’Isabel is satisfied.  She never desired anything but a quiet, simple, useful life.’

’Your Aunt Catharine delighted, of course?  No doubt of that; but what has come to Lady Conway?’

’She cannot help it, and makes the best of it.  She gave us very little trouble.’

‘Ah! her own daughter is growing up,’ said the Earl, significantly.

‘Isabel is very fond of Northwold,’ said Mary, feeling that Louis was wanting her sympathy.  ’She used to wish she could settle there—­with how little consciousness!’

‘If I had to judge in such a case,’ said Lord Ormersfield, thoughtfully, ’I should hesitate to risk a woman’s happiness with a temper such as that of James Frost.’

‘Oh, father!’ cried Louis, indignantly.

‘I suspect,’ said Lord Ormersfield, smiling, ’that of late years, James’s temper has been more often displayed towards me than towards you.’

‘A certain proof how safe his wife will be,’ returned Louis.

His father shook his head, and looking from one to the other of the young people, congratulated himself that here, at least, there were no perils of that description.  He asked how long the attachment had existed.