m her, if it comes from her own lips,--shall do so." Then he took
his friend's hand in his, and, having grasped it, walked away without
saying another word.

CHAPTER XXXI

Miss Boncassen's River-Party. No. 1

Thrice within the next three weeks did Lord Silverbridge go forth
to ask Mabel to be his wife, but thrice in vain. On one occasion
she would talk on other things. On the second Miss Cassewary would
not leave her. On the third the conversation turned in a very
disagreeable way on Miss Boncassen, as to whom Lord Silverbridge
could not but think that Lady Mabel said some very ill-natured
things. It was no doubt true that he, during the last three weeks,
had often been in Miss Boncassen's company, that he had danced
with her, ridden with her, taken her to the House of Lords and to
the House of Commons, and was now engaged to attend upon her at a
river-party up above Maidenhead. But Mabel had certainly no right to
complain. Had he not thrice during the same period come there to lay
his coronet at her feet;--and now, at this very moment, was it not
her fault that he was not going through the ceremony?

"I suppose," she said, laughing, "that it is all settled."

"What is all settled?"

"About you and the American beauty."

"I am not aware that anything particular has been settled."

"Then it ought to be,--oughtn't it? For her sake, I mean."

"That is so like an English woman," said Lord Silverbridge. "Because
you cannot understand a manner of life a little different from your
own you will impute evil."

"I have imputed no evil, Lord Silverbridge, and you have no right to
say so."

"If you mean to assert," said Miss Cass, "that the manners of
American young ladies are freer than those of English young ladies,
it is you that are taking away their characters."

"I don't say it would be at all bad," continued Lady Mabel. "She is
a beautiful girl, and very clever, and would make a charming Duchess.
And then it would be such a delicious change to have an American
Duchess."

"She wouldn't be a Duchess."

"Well, Countess, with Duchessship before her in the remote future.
Wouldn't it be a change, Miss Cass?"

"Oh decidedly!" said Miss Cass.

"And very much for the better. Quite a case of new blood, you know.
Pray don't suppose that I mean to object. Everybody who talks about
it approves. I haven't heard a dissentient voice. Only as it has gone
so far, and as English people are too stupid, you know, to