wish you would not talk nonsense, Isabel. Are you in a state to
travel night and day? Neither would home be agreeable to you yet
awhile."

She felt the force of the objections. Resuming after a moment's
pause--"Were you to go to England, you might not be back in time."

"In time for what?"

"Oh, how can you ask?" she rejoined, in a sharp tone of reproach; "you
know too well. In time to make me your wife when the divorce shall
appear."

"I shall chance it," coolly observed Sir Francis.

"Chance it! _chance_ the legitimacy of the child? You must assure that,
before all things. More terrible to me than all the rest would it be,
if--"

"Now don't put yourself in a fever, Isabel. How many times am I to be
compelled to beg that of you! It does no good. Is it my fault, if I am
called suddenly to England?"

"Have you no pity for your child?" she urged in agitation. "Nothing can
repair the injury, if you once suffer it to come upon him. He will be a
by-word amidst men throughout his life."

"You had better have written to the law lords to urge on the divorce,"
he returned. "I cannot help the delay."

"There has been no delay; quite the contrary. But it may be expected
hourly now."

"You are worrying yourself for nothing, Isabel. I shall be back in
time."

He quitted the room as he spoke, and Lady Isabel remained in it,
the image of despair. Nearly an hour elapsed when she remembered the
breakfast things, and rang for them to be removed. A maid-servant
entered to do it, and she thought how ill miladi looked.

"Where is Pierre?" miladi asked.

"Pierre was making himself ready to attend monsieur to England."

Scarcely had she closed the door upon herself and the tray when Sir
Francis Levison appeared, equipped for traveling. "Good-bye, Isabel,"
said he, without further circumlocution or ceremony.

Lady Isabel, excited beyond all self-control, slipped the bolt of the
door; and, half leaning against it, half leaning at his feet, held up
her hand in supplication.

"Francis, have you any consideration left for me--any in the world?"

"How can you be so alarmed, Isabel? Of course I have," he continued, in
a peevish, though kind tone, as he took hold of her hands to raise her.

"No, not yet. I will remain here until you say you will wait another
day or two. You know that the French Protestant minister is prepared to
marry us the instant news of the divorce shall arrive; if you do care
still for me, you will wait.