However, the Whites en famille were not quite the same externally.  When Lord Rotherwood, after luncheon, went to see old White at the works, and look after his font, he met with a reception as stiff and cold as could well be paid to a distinguished customer who was not at all in fault; and for the first time Mr. White was too busy to walk back with him to the castle to see Adeline, whom he found, as usual, on a couch on the terrace in the shade of the house, a pretty picture among the flowers and vines.  She was much more open with him, as became one who understood more of his point of view.

“Well, Rotherwood, I suppose I am to congratulate you, though it is scarcely a fair match in a worldly point of view.”

“For which I care not a rap.  She is a good, simple girl, and a perfect lady.”

“And Victoria?  May I ask, does not she think it a misalliance, considering what these Vanderkists are-—and the Underwoods?”

“There’s no one I respect more than Lancelot Underwood.  As to Victoria, she is thankful that it is no worse.”

“Ah!  I know what you mean, but you can’t wonder that my husband should feel it hard that there should have been some kind of flirtation.  He is fond of Maura, you know, and he does feel that there must have been some slyness in some one to cause this affair to have been so suddenly sprung on us.”

“Slyness-—aye, I believe there was.  Tell me, Ada, had you any notion that that lad, Gerald Underwood, was engaged to Dolores Mohun?”

“No; who told you?”

“Mysie let it out.  She had been warned not to mention it till his position was ascertained, Maurice’s consent and all.”

“I must say Mysie should have spoken.  It was not fair towards me to keep it back.”

“Still less fair of Maura, if that’s her name, to hint at attachment between Franceska and the boy.  That was the embargo upon my poor fellow.  He rushed off to have it out the moment he saw how matters stood.”

“Well, it was a great shame; but girls are girls, especially with those antecedents, and Maura did not know to the contrary.  You will believe me, Rotherwood, I never had any desire that she should succeed.  I would have sent her away if I could; but you can’t wonder that Mr. White is vexed, and feels as if there had been underhand dealing.”

“I see he is.  But you will not let him make it unpleasant for the Underwoods.”

“Oh no, no!  They have not much longer to stay.  They are in correspondence about a rheumatic clergyman.”

Mrs. White, however, determined not to expose Maura to her husband, though she reproached her, and was rather shocked by the young lady’s self-defence.  It was a natural idea, and no one had ever told her to the contrary.  It was all spite in Mysie Merrifield to proclaim it after having kept it back so long.

She really was in such a state of mind that Mrs. White was rather relieved that the Rotherwoods had taken Franceska to San Remo to stay till Ivinghoe had to depart.  Anna was left to send off the little felicitous note that she had written to her mother.