‘There is some puzzle in the middle,’ said Louis.  ’I can’t make out the hero whose addresses were so inconvenient to Adeline, and who ran away from the pirates.  He began as a crabbed old troubadour, who made bad verses; and then he went on as a fantastic young Viscount, skipping and talking nonsense.’

‘Oh!’ cried Isabel, much discomposed.  ’Did I leave that piece there?  I took it to Estminster by mistake, and they told me of it.  I should have taken it out.’

‘That would have been a pity,’ said Louis, ’for the Viscount is a much more living man than the old troubadour.  When he had so many plans of poems for the golden violet that he made none at all, I was quite taken with him.  I began to think I was going to have a lesson.’

Isabel blushed and tried to laugh, but it was so unsuccessful that Louis exclaimed in high glee—­’There!  I do believe I was the fantastic Viscount!  Oh!  Isabel, it was too bad!  I can fairly acquit myself of skipping ever since I had the honour of your acquaintance.’

‘Or of running away from the pirates,’ said Isabel.  ’No, it was a great deal too bad, and very wrong indeed.  It was when you did not run away that I was so much ashamed, that I thought I had torn out every atom.  I never told any one—­not even Virginia!’

Louis had a very hearty laugh, and, when Isabel gaw him so excessively amused, she ventured to laugh too at her ancient prejudice, and the strange chance which had made the fantastic Viscount, Sir Roland’s critic.

‘You must restore him,’ said Louis, returning to business.  ’That old troubadour is the one inconsistency in the story, evidently not fitting into the original plot.  I shall be delighted to sit for the portrait.’

‘I don’t think you could now,’ said Isabel.  ’I think the motley must have been in the spectacles with which I looked at you.’

‘Ah! it is a true poem,’ said Louis, ’it must have been a great relief to your feelings!  Shall I give it back to you?

‘Oh!  I can’t touch it now!’ cried Isabel.  ’You may give it to me, and if ever I have time to think again of it, I may touch it up, but certainly not now.’

’And when you do, pray don’t omit the Viscount.  I can’t lose my chance of going down to posterity.’

He went his way, while Isabel repaired to the Terrace, and found Charlotte awaiting her answer in much trepidation.

The low wages, instead of none at all, were a great disappointment, doing away with all the honour and sentiment, and merely degrading her in the eyes of her companions; but her attachment conquered this objection, and face to face with her mistress, the affectation departed, and left remaining such honest and sincere faithfulness and affection, that Isabel felt as if a valuable and noble-hearted friend had suddenly been made known to her.  It was a silly little fanciful heart, but it was sound to the core; and when Isabel said, ’There will be very hard work, Charlotte, but we will try to do our best for Mr. Frost and the children, and we will help each other,’ Charlotte felt as if no task could be too hard if it were to be met with such a look and smile.