‘Not pecuniarily.’

’Oh, it will be quite possible to see to all that!  Besides, think of the advantage to her schemes.  Oh yes, dear Jenny, it will be a wrench to her, of course, and she will miss me; but, when that is once got over, she will feel that I have acted for the best.  Nor will it be such a separation; he means always to spend the summer here, and the winter and spring at Florence or Rocca Marina.’  It was grand to hear the Italian syllables roll from Adeline’s tongue.  ’You know he could take the title if he pleased.’

‘I am sure I hope he will not do anything so ridiculous!’

‘Oh no, of course not!’ But it was plain that the secret consciousness of being Countess of Rocca Marina was an offset against being plain Mrs. White, and Adeline continued:  ’There is another thing—–­I do not quite see how it can be managed about Kalliope otherwise, poor girl!’

It was quite true that the care of Kalliope would be greatly facilitated by Mr. White’s marriage; but what was absurd was to suppose that Ada would have made any sacrifice for her sake, or any one else’s, and there was something comical as well as provoking in this pose of devotion to the public good.

‘You are decided, then?’

’Oh no!  I am only showing you what inducements there are to give up so much as I should do here—–­if I make up my mind to it.’

‘There’s only one inducement, I should think, valid for a moment.’

’Yes’—–­bridling a little.  ’But, Lily, you always had your romance.  We don’t all meet with a Jasper at the right moment, and—–­and’—–­the Maid of Athens drooped her eyelids, and ingenuously curved her lips.  ‘I do think the poor man has it very much at heart.’

‘Then you ought not to keep him in suspense.’

‘And you—–­you really are not against it, Lily?’ (rather in a disappointed tone), as if she expected to have her own value enhanced.

’I think you ought to do whatever is most right and just by him, and everybody else.  If you really care for the man enough to overlook his origin, and his occasional betrayals of it, and think he will make you better and happier, take him at once; but don’t pretend to call it a sacrifice, or for anybody’s sake but for your own; and, any way, don’t trifle with him and his suspense.’

Lady Merrifield spoke with unwonted severity, for she was really provoked.

’But, Lily, I must see what the others say—–­William and Emily.  I told him that William was the head of our family.’

’If you mean to be guided by them, well and good; if not, I see no sense in asking them.’

After all, the family commotion fell short of what was expected by either of the sisters.  The eldest brother, Mr. Mohun, of Beechcroft Court, wrote to the lady herself that she was quite old enough to know what was for her own happiness, and he had no desire to interfere with her choice if she preferred wealth to station.  To Lady Merrifield his letter began:  ’It is very well it is no worse, and as Jasper vouches for this being a worthy man, and of substantial means, there is no valid objection.  I shall take care to overhaul the settlements, and, if possible, I must make up poor Jane’s income.’