Lady Cashel began the conversation.

“Oh, Fanny,” she said, “you must really overcome all this sensitiveness; you really must.  I’ve spoken to your uncle, and it’s quite impossible, and very unwise; and, indeed, it can’t be done at all.  In fact, Lord Ballindine isn’t, by any means, the sort of person I supposed.”

Fanny knit her brows a little at this, and felt somewhat less humble than she did before.  She knew she should get indignant if her uncle abused her lover, and that, if she did, her courage would rise in proportion.  Her aunt continued—­

“Your uncle’s very kind about it, and says he can, of course, forgive your feeling a little out of sorts just at present; and, I’m sure, so can I, and I’m sure I’d do anything to make you happy; but as for making it all up with Lord Ballindine again, indeed it cannot be thought of, Fanny; and so your uncle will tell you.”

And then Lord Cashel opened his oracular mouth, for the purpose of doing so.

“Really, Fanny, this is the most unaccountable thing I ever heard of.  But you’d better sit down, while I speak to you,” and Fanny sat down on the sofa.  “I think I understood you rightly, when you desired me, less than a month ago, to inform Lord Ballindine that circumstances—­that is, his own conduct—­obliged you to decline the honour of his alliance.  Did you not do so spontaneously, and of your own accord?”

“Certainly, uncle, I agreed to take your advice; though I did so most unwillingly.”

“Had I not your authority for desiring him—­I won’t say to discontinue his visits, for that he had long done—­but to give up his pretensions to your hand?  Did you not authorise me to do so?”

“I believe I did.  But, uncle—­”

“And I have done as you desired me; and now, Fanny, that I have done so—­now that I have fully explained to him what you taught me to believe were your wishes on the subject, will you tell me—­for I really think your aunt must have misunderstood you—­what it is that you wish me to do?”

“Why, uncle, you pointed out—­and it was very true then, that my fortune was not sufficient to enable Lord Ballindine to keep up his rank.  It is different now, and I am very, very sorry that it is so; but it is different now, and I feel that I ought not to reject Lord Ballindine, because I am so much richer than I was when he—­when he proposed to me.”

“Then it’s merely a matter of feeling with you, and not of affection?  If I understand you, you are afraid that you should be thought to have treated Lord Ballindine badly?”

“It’s not only that—­” And then she paused for a few moments, and added, “I thought I could have parted with him, when you made me believe that I ought to do so, but I find I cannot.”

“You mean that you love him?” and the earl looked very black at his niece.  He intended to frighten her out of her resolution, but she quietly answered,

“Yes, uncle, I do.”