on a chair immediately opposite.  And then, it is impossible to talk to one’s mistress, in an ordinary voice, on ordinary subjects, when one has not seen her for some months.  A lover is never so badly off as in a family party:  a tete-a-tete, or a large assembly, are what suit him best:  he is equally at his ease in either; but he is completely out of his element in a family party.  After all, Lady Cashel was right; it would have been much better to have asked the O’Joscelyns.

The next morning, Frank underwent a desperate interview in the book-room.  His head was dizzy before Lord Cashel had finished half of what he had to say.  He commenced by pointing out with what perfect uprightness and wisdom he had himself acted with regard to his ward; and Lord Ballindine did not care to be at the trouble of contradicting him.  He then went to the subject of settlements, and money matters:  professed that he had most unbounded confidence in his young friend’s liberality, integrity, and good feeling; that he would be glad to listen, and, he had no doubt, to accede to any proposals made by him:  that he was quite sure Lord Ballindine would make no proposal which was not liberal, fair, and most proper; and he said a great deal more of the kind, and then himself proposed to arrange his ward’s fortune in such a way as to put it quite beyond her future husband’s control.  On this subject, however, Frank rather nonplussed the earl by proposing nothing, and agreeing to nothing; but simply saying that he would leave the whole matter in the hands of the lawyers.

“Quite right, my lord, quite right,” said Lord Cashel, “my men of business, Green and Grogram, will manage all that.  They know all about Fanny’s property; they can draw out the settlements, and Grogram can bring them here, and we can execute them:  that’ll be the simplest way.”

“I’ll write to Mr Cummings, then, and tell him to wait on Messrs. Green and Grogram.  Cummings is a very proper man:  he was recommended to me by Guinness.”

“Oh, ah—­yes; your attorney, you mean?” said the earl.  “Why, yes, that will be quite proper, too.  Of course Mr Cummings will see the necessity of absolutely securing Miss Wyndham’s fortune.”

Nothing further, however, was said between them on the subject; and the settlements, whatever was their purport, were drawn out without any visible interference on the part of Lord Ballindine.  But Mr Grogram, the attorney, on his first visit to Grey Abbey on the subject, had no difficulty in learning that Miss Wyndham was determined to have a will of her own in the disposition of her own money.

Fanny told her lover the whole episode of Lord Kilcullen’s offer to her; but she told it in such a way as to redound rather to her cousin’s credit than otherwise.  She had learned to love him as a cousin and a friend, and his ill-timed proposal to her had not destroyed the feeling.  A woman can rarely be really offended at the expression of love, unless it be from some one unfitted to match with her, either in rank or age.  Besides, Fanny thought that Lord Kilcullen had behaved generously to her when she so violently repudiated his love:  she believed that it had been sincere; she had not even to herself accused him of meanness or treachery; and she spoke of him as one to be pitied, liked, and regarded; not as one to be execrated and avoided.