“Mr. Hardie!!!” cried Lucy, rather loudly, to attract her uncle’s attention.

“Oh, no, the same objection applies there; I made my uncle a solemn promise not to marry any friend of yours, aunt.  Poor uncle!  I refused at first, but he looked so unhappy my resolution failed, and I gave my promise.  I will keep it, uncle.  Don’t fear me.”

It caused Mrs. Bazalgette a fierce struggle to command her temper.  Both she and Fountain were dumb for a minute; then elastic Mrs. Bazalgette said: 

“We were both to blame; you and I did not really know each other.  The best thing we can do now is to release the poor girl from these silly promises, that stand in the way of her settlement in life.”

“I agree, madam.”

“So do I. There, Lucy, choose, for we both release you.”

“Thank you,” said Lucy gravely; “but how can you?  No unfair advantage was taken of me; I plighted my word knowingly and solemnly, and no human power can release persons of honor from a solemn pledge.  Besides, just now you would release me; but you might not always be in the same mind.  No, I will keep faith with you both, and not place my truth at the mercy of any human being nor of any circumstance.  If that is all, please permit me to retire.  The less a young lady of my age thinks or talks about the other sex, the more time she has for her books and her needle;” and, having delivered this precious sentence, with a deliberate and most deceiving imitation of the pedantic prude, she departed, and outside the door broke instantly into a joyous chuckle at the expense of the plotters she had left looking moonstruck in one another’s faces.  If the new allies had been both Fountain, the apple of discord this sweet novice threw down between them would have dissolved the alliance, as the sly novice meant it to do; but, while the gentleman went storming about the room ripe for civil war, the lady leaned back in her chair and laughed heartily.

“Come, Mr. Fountain, it is no use your being cross with a female, or she will get the better of you.  She has outwitted us.  We took her for a fool, and she is a clever girl.  I’ll—­tell—­you—­what, she is a very clever girl.  Never mind that, she is only a girl; and, if you will be ruled by me, her happiness shall be secured in spite of her, and she shall be engaged in less than a week.”

Fountain recognized his superior, and put himself under the lady’s orders—­in an evil hour for Lucy.

The poor girl’s triumph over the forces was but momentary; her ground was not tenable.  The person promised can release the person who promises—­volenti non fit injuria. Lucy found herself attacked with female weapons, that you and I, sir, should laugh at; but they made her miserable.  Cold looks; short answers; solemnity; distance; hints at ingratitude and perverseness; kisses intermitted all day, and the parting one at night degraded to a dignified ceremony.  Under this impalpable persecution the young thoroughbred, that had steered the boat across the breakers, winced and pined.