in."

"Don't say that, Lord Silverbridge. You ought to have more mercy on
me. You ought to put up with anything from me,--knowing how much I
suffer."

"I will put up with anything," said he.

"Do, do. And now I will try to talk to Mr. Erle."

Miss Boncassen was sitting on the other side of the table, between
Mr. Monk and Phineas Finn, and throughout the dinner talked mock
politics with the greatest liveliness. Silverbridge when he entered
the room had gone round the table and had shaken hands with everyone.
But there had been no other greeting between him and Isabel, nor had
any sign passed from one to the other. No such greeting or sign had
been possible. Nothing had been left undone which she had expected,
or hoped. But, though she was lively, nevertheless she kept her eye
upon her lover and Lady Mabel. Lady Mary had said that she thought
her brother was in love with Lady Mabel. Could it be possible? In
her own land she had heard absurd stories,--stories which seemed to
her to be absurd,--of the treachery of lords and countesses, of the
baseness of aristocrats, of the iniquities of high life in London.
But her father had told her that, go where she might, she would find
people in the main to be very like each other. It had seemed to her
that nothing could be more ingenuous than this young man had been in
the declaration of his love. No simplest republican could have spoken
more plainly. But now, at this moment, she could not doubt but that
her lover was very intimate with this other girl. Of course he was
free. When she had refused to say a word to him of her own love or
want of love, she had necessarily left him his liberty. When she had
put him off for three months, of course he was to be his own master.
But what must she think of him if it were so? And how could he have
the courage to face her in his father's house if he intended to treat
her in such a fashion? But of all this she showed nothing, nor was
there a tone in her voice which betrayed her. She said her last word
to Mr. Monk with so sweet a smile that that old bachelor wished he
were younger for her sake.

In the evening after dinner there was music. It was discovered that
Miss Boncassen sang divinely, and both Lady Mabel and Lady Mary
accompanied her. Mr. Erle, and Mr. Warburton, and Mr. Monk, all of
whom were unmarried, stood by enraptured. But Lord Silverbridge kept
himself apart, and interested himself in a description which Mrs.
Boncassen gave