uld,--or does, for I am aware that they have
met. But why should he not admire her?"

"I don't know," said Lady Mary sheepishly.

"I fancy that there is no danger in that direction. I think
Silverbridge understands what is expected from him." Had not
Silverbridge plainly shown that he understood what was expected from
him when he selected Lady Mabel? Nothing could have been more proper,
and the Duke had been altogether satisfied. That in such a matter
there should have been a change in so short a time did not occur to
him. Poor Mary was now completely silenced. She had been told that
Silverbridge understood what was expected from him; and of course
could not fail to carry home to herself an accusation that she failed
to understand what was expected from her.

She had written her letters, but had not as yet sent them. Those to
Mrs. Finn and to the two young ladies had been easy enough. Could Mr.
and Mrs. Finn come to Matching on the 20th of November? "Papa says
that you promised to return, and thinks this time will perhaps
suit you." And then to Lady Mabel: "Do come if you can; and papa
particularly says that he hopes Miss Cassewary will come also." To
Miss Boncassen she had written a long letter, but that too had been
written very easily. "I write to you instead of your mamma, because I
know you. You must tell her that, and then she will not be angry. I
am only papa's messenger, and I am to say how much he hopes that you
will come on the 20th. Mr. Boncassen is to bring the whole British
Museum if he wishes." Then there was a little postscript which showed
that there was already considerable intimacy between the two young
ladies. "We won't have either Mr. L. or Lord P." Not a word was said
about Lord Silverbridge. There was not even an initial to indicate
his name.

But the letter to her brother was more difficult. In her epistles to
those others she had so framed her words as if possible to bring them
to Matching. But in writing to her brother, she was anxious so to
write as to deter him from coming. She was bound to obey her father's
commands. He had desired that Silverbridge should be asked to
come,--and he was asked to come. But she craftily endeavoured so to
word the invitation that he should be induced to remain away. "It is
all papa's doing," she said; "and I am glad that he should like to
have people here. I have asked the Finns, with whom papa seems to
have made up everything. Mr. Warburton will be here of