ger Madame de Bernstein,
like Will's former hint about his aunt having been a favourite at George
the Second's Court; but, on the contrary, set her in good-humour.

"Au fait," she said, musing, as she played a pretty little hand on the
table, and no doubt thinking about mad young Harry Estridge; 'tis not
impossible, William, that old folks, and young folks, too, should play
the fool."

"But I can't understand a young fellow being in love with Maria,"
continued Mr. William, "however he might be with you, ma'am. That's oter
shose, as our French tutor used to say. You remember the Count, ma'am;
he! he!--and so does Maria!"

"William!"

"And I dare say the Count remembers the bastinado Castlewood had given
to him. A confounded French dancing-master calling himself a count, and
daring to fall in love in our family! Whenever I want to make myself
uncommonly agreeable to old Maria, I just say a few words of parly voo
to her. She knows what I mean."

"Have you abused her to your cousin, Harry Warrington?" asked Madame de
Bernstein.

"Well--I know she is always abusing me--and I have said my mind about
her," said Will.

"Oh, you idiot!" cried the old lady. "Who but a gaby ever spoke ill of a
woman to her sweetheart? He will tell her everything, and they both will
hate you."

"The very thing, ma'am!" cried Will, bursting into a great laugh. "I
had a sort of a suspicion, you see, and two days ago, as we were riding
together, I told Harry Warrington a bit of my mind about Maria;--why
shouldn't I, I say? She is always abusing me, ain't she, Fan? And your
favourite turned as red as my plush waistcoat--wondered how a gentleman
could malign his own flesh and blood, and, trembling all over with rage,
said I was no true Esmond."

"Why didn't you chastise him, sir, as my lord did the dancing-master?"
cried Lady Castlewood.

"Well, mother,--you see that at quarter-staff there's two sticks used,"
replied Mr. William; "and my opinion is, that Harry Warrington can guard
his own head uncommonly well. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why I
did not offer to treat my cousin to a caning. And now you say so, ma'am,
I know he has told Maria. She has been looking battle, murder, and
sudden death at me ever since. All which shows----" and here he turned
to his aunt.

"All which shows what?"

"That I think we are on the right scent; and that we've found Maria--the
old fox!" And the ingenuous youth here clapped his hand to his mouth,