e Bernard swears that you're so pretty."
This was Mrs. Thorne, once Miss Dunstable, the richest woman in
England, and the aunt of Bernard's bride. The reader may perhaps
remember the advice which she once gave to Major Grantly, and her
enthusiasm on that occasion. "There she is, Mr. Dale; what do you
think of her?" said Mrs. Thorne, as she opened the door of a small
sitting-room wedged in between two large saloons, in which Emily
Dunstable was sitting.

"Aunt Martha, how can you be so ridiculous?" said the young lady.

"I suppose it is ridiculous to ask the question to which one really
wants to have an answer," said Mrs. Thorne. "But Mr. Dale has, in
truth, come to inspect you, and to form an opinion; and, in honest
truth, I shall be very anxious to know what he thinks,--though, of
course, he won't tell me."

The old man took the girl in his arms, and kissed her on both cheeks.
"I have no doubt you'll find out what I think," he said, "though I
should never tell you."

"I generally do find out what people think," she said. "And so you're
Lily Dale?"

"Yes, I'm Lily Dale."

"I have so often heard of you, particularly of late; for you must
know that a certain Major Grantly is a friend of mine. We must take
care that that affair comes off all right, must we not?"

"I hope it will." Then Lily turned to Emily Dunstable, and, taking
her hand, went up and sat beside her, while Mrs. Thorne and the squire
talked of the coming marriage. "How long have you been engaged?" said
Lily.

"Really engaged, about three weeks. I think it is not more than three
weeks ago."

"How very discreet Bernard has been. He never told us a word about it
while it was going on."

"Men never do tell, I suppose," said Emily Dunstable.

"Of course you love him very dearly?" said Lily, not knowing what
else to say.

"Of course I do."

"So do we. You know he's almost a brother to us; that is, to me and
my sister. We never had a brother of our own." And so the morning was
passed till Lily was told by her uncle to come away, and was told
also by Mrs. Thorne that she was to dine with them in the square on
that day. "You must not be surprised that my husband is not here,"
she said. "He is a very odd sort of man, and he never comes to London
if he can help it."

CHAPTER XLVI

The Bayswater Romance

Eames had by no means done his work for that evening when he left Mr
Dale and Lily at their lodgings. He had other business in hand to