unauthorized passion.
But as matters now stood, with those two strings to her bow, and
with that Lufton-Grantly alliance treaty in existence--of which she,
Griselda herself, knew nothing--might it not be possible that the
poor child should stumble through want of adequate direction? Guided
by these thoughts, Mrs. Grantly had resolved to say a few words
before she left London. So she wrote a line to her daughter, and
Griselda reached Mount Street at two o'clock in Lady Lufton's
carriage, which, during the interview, waited for her at the
beer-shop round the corner.

"And papa won't be Bishop of Westminster?" said the young lady, when
the doings of the giants had been sufficiently explained to make her
understand that all those hopes were over.

"No, my dear; at any rate not now."

"What a shame! I thought it was all settled. What's the good, mamma,
of Lord De Terrier being Prime Minister, if he can't make whom he
likes a bishop?"

"I don't think that Lord De Terrier has behaved at all well to your
father. However, that's a long question, and we can't go into it
now."

"How glad those Proudies will be!" Griselda would have talked by the
hour on this subject had her mother allowed her, but it was necessary
that Mrs. Grantly should go to other matters. She began about Lady
Lufton, saying what a dear woman her ladyship was; and then went on
to say that Griselda was to remain in London as long as it suited her
friend and hostess to stay there with her; but added, that this might
probably not be very long, as it was notorious that Lady Lufton, when
in London, was always in a hurry to get back to Framley.

"But I don't think she is in such a hurry this year, mamma," said
Griselda, who in the month of May preferred Bruton Street to
Plumstead, and had no objection whatever to the coronet on the
panels of Lady Lufton's coach. And then Mrs. Grantly commenced her
explanation--very cautiously. "No, my dear, I dare say she is not in
such a hurry this year,--that is, as long as you remain with her."

"I am sure she is very kind."

"She is very kind, and you ought to love her very much. I know I do.
I have no friend in the world for whom I have a greater regard than
for Lady Lufton. It is that which makes me so happy to leave you with
her."

"All the same, I wish that you and papa had remained up; that is, if
they had made papa a bishop."

"It's no good thinking of that now, my dear. What I particularly
wanted to say to y