‘Has she had my letter?  Does she know I am here?’

’Wait!  All this settled, and luncheon being ready, down came my Lady, and we played unconsciousness to our best ability.  I must confess my aunt beat us hollow!  Isabel then left us to our conference, which we conducted with the gravity of a tailor and an old woman making a match in Brittany.’

’You came out with that valuable improvable freehold, the Terrace, I suppose?’

’I told the mere facts!  My aunt was rather grand about a grammar-school; she said even a curacy would sound better, and she must talk it over with Isabel.  I gave your letter, conjuring her to let Isabel have it, and though she declared that it was no kindness, and would put the poor darling into needless perplexity, she was touched with my forbearance, in not having given it before, when I had such an opportunity.  So she went away, and stayed a weary while:  but when she came, it was worth the waiting.  She said Isabel was old enough to know her own mind, and the attachment being so strong, and you so unexceptionable, she did not think it possible to object:  she had great delight in seeing you made happy, and fulfilling the dictates of her own heart, now that it could be done with moderate prudence.  They go to Scarborough in a fortnight, and you will be welcome there.  There’s for you!’

’Louis, you are the best fellow living!  But you said I was to see her at once.’

‘I asked, why wait for Scarborough?’ and depicted you hovering disconsolately round the precincts.  Never mind, Jem, I did not make you more ridiculous than human nature must needs paint a lover, and it was all to melt her heart.  I was starting off to fetch you, when I found she was in great terror.  She had never told the Mansells of the matter, and they must be prepared.  She cannot have it transpire while she is in their house, and, in fact, is excessively afraid of Mr. Mansell, and wants to tell her story by letter.  Now, I think, considering all things, she has a right to take her own way.’

‘You said I was not to go without meeting her!’

’I had assented, and was devising how to march off my lunatic quietly, when the feminine goodnatured heart that is in her began to relent, and she looked up in my face with a smile, and said the poor dears were really exemplary, and if Isabel should walk to the beach and should meet any one there, she need know nothing about it.’

‘What says Isabel?’

’She held up her stately head, and thought it would be a better return for Mr. Mansell’s kindness to tell him herself before leaving Beauchastel; but Lady Conway entreated her not to be hasty, and protested that her fears were of Mr. Mansell’s displeasure with her for not having taken better care of her—­she dreaded a break, and so on,—­till the end of it was, that though we agree that prudence would carry us off to-morrow morning, yet her ladyship will look the other way, if you happen to be on the southern beach at eleven o’clock to-morrow morning.  I suppose you were very headlong and peremptory in your note, for I could not imagine Isabel consenting to a secret tryste even so authorized.’