“Nobody says it is, my dear.”

“But you seem to preach to me about it.  What can I do for the girl?  The fact is, he don’t care for her a bit, and never did.”

“Then he shouldn’t have told her that he did.”

“That’s all very well, Amelia; but people don’t always do exactly all that they ought to do.  I suppose Mr Crosbie isn’t the first man that has proposed to two ladies.  I dare say it was wrong, but I can’t help it.  As to Mr Dale coming here with a tale of his niece’s wrongs, I think it very absurd,—­very absurd indeed.  It makes it look as though there had been a scheme to catch Mr Crosbie, and it’s my belief that there was such a scheme.”

“I only hope that there’ll be no quarrel.”

“Men don’t fight duels nowadays, Amelia.”

“But do you remember what Frank Gresham did to Mr Moffat when he behaved so badly to poor Augusta?”

“Mr Crosbie isn’t afraid of that kind of thing.  And I always thought that Frank was very wrong,—­very wrong indeed.  What’s the good of two men beating each other in the street?”

“Well; I’m sure I hope there’ll be no quarrel.  But I own I don’t like the look of it.  You see the uncle must have known all about it, and have consented to the marriage, or he would not have come here.”

“I don’t see that it can make any difference to me, Amelia.”

“No, my dear, I don’t see that it can.  We shall be up in town soon, and I will see as much as possible of Mr Crosbie.  The marriage, I hope, will take place soon.”

“He talks of February.”

“Don’t put it off, Alley, whatever you do.  There are so many slips, you know, in these things.”

“I’m not a bit afraid of that,” said Alexandrina, sticking up her head.

“I dare say not; and you may be sure that we will keep an eye on him.  Mortimer will get him up to dine with us as often as possible, and as his leave of absence is all over, he can’t get out of town.  He’s to be here at Christmas, isn’t he?”

“Of course he is.”

“Mind you keep him to that.  And as to these Dales, I would be very careful, if I were you, not to say anything unkind of them to any one.  It sounds badly in your position.”  And with this last piece of advice Lady Amelia Gazebee allowed the subject to drop.

On that day Lady Julia returned to her own home.  Her adieux to the whole family at Courcy Castle were very cold, but about Mr Crosbie and his lady-love at Allington she said no further word to any of them.  Alexandrina did not show herself at all on the occasion, and indeed had not spoken to her enemy since that evening on which she had felt herself constrained to retreat from the drawing-room.

“Good-bye,” said the countess.  “You have been so good to come, and we have enjoyed it so much.”

“I thank you very much.  Good-morning,” said Lady Julia, with a stately courtesy.

“Pray remember me to your brother.  I wish we could have seen him; I hope he has not been hurt by the—­the bull.”  And then Lady Julia went her way.