to such a state of uneasiness, that I think it will end in his going
to Ebbscreek at once.'

'O mamma, you won't let him go and torment Louis?'

'Why, Mary, have you been learning of James? Perhaps he would torment
him more from a distance; and besides, I doubt what sort of counsellor
James is likely to make in his present mood.'

'I never could see that James made any difference to Louis,' said Mary.
'I know people think he does, because Louis gives up wishes and plans
to him; but he is not led in opinions or principles, as far as I can
see.'

'Not unless his own wishes went the same way.'

'At least, Lord Ormersfield will see Miss Conway!'

'I am afraid that will do no good. It will not be for the first time.
Lady Conway has been his dread from the time of his own marriage; and
if she should come to Northwold, he will be in despair. I do think he
must be right; she must be making a dead set at Louis.'

'Not Miss Conway,' said Mary. 'I know she must be good, or he would
not endure her for a moment.'

'Mary, you do not know the power of beauty.'

'I have heard of it,' said Mary; 'I have seen how Dona Guadalupe was
followed. But those people were not like Louis. No, mamma; I think
James might be taken in, I don't think Louis could be--unless he had a
very grand dream of his own before his eyes; and then it would be his
own dream, not the lady that he saw; and by-and-by he would find it
out, and be so vexed!'

'And, I trust, before he had committed himself!'

'Mamma, I won't have you think Miss Conway anything but up to his
dreams! I know she is. Only think what Jane Drummond says of her!'

When the idea of going to see how matters stood had once occurred to
the Earl, he could not stay at home: the ankle and the affections
preyed on him by turns, and he wrote to Sir Miles Oakstead to fix an
earlier day for the promised visit, as well as to his son, to announce
his speedy arrival. Then he forgot the tardiness of cross-country
posts, and outran his letter, so that he found no one to meet him at
Bickleypool; and on driving up to the gate at Ebbscreek, found all
looking deserted. After much knocking, Priscilla appeared, round-eyed
and gasping, and verified his worst fears with 'Gone to Bochattle.'
However, she explained that only one gentleman was gone to dine there;
the other was rowing him round the point, with grandfather;--they would
soon be back--indeed they ought, for the tide was so low, they wou