. I have never dreamed of such a thing;
nor, as far as I believe, have they. If anybody has spread such a
report, or said that either of them have hinted at such a thing, it
is a base lie. Good heavens! Lufton, for what do you take them?"

"But I did," said his lordship.

"Did what?" said the parson.

"I did make your sister an offer."

"You made Lucy an offer of marriage!"

"Yes, I did;--in as plain language as a gentleman could use to a
lady."

"And what answer did she make?

"She refused me. And now, Mark, I have come down here with the
express purpose of making that offer again. Nothing could be more
decided than your sister's answer. It struck me as being almost
uncourteously decided. But still it is possible that circumstances
may have weighed with her which ought not to weigh with her. If her
love be not given to anyone else, I may still have a chance of it.
It's the old story of faint heart, you know: at any rate, I mean to
try my luck again; and thinking over it with deliberate purpose, I
have come to the conclusion that I ought to tell you before I see
her."

Lord Lufton in love with Lucy! As these words repeated themselves
over and over again within Mark Robarts's mind, his mind added
to them notes of surprise without end. How had it possibly come
about,--and why? In his estimation his sister Lucy was a very simple
girl--not plain indeed, but by no means beautiful; certainly not
stupid, but by no means brilliant. And then, he would have said, that
of all men whom he knew, Lord Lufton would have been the last to
fall in love with such a girl as his sister. And now, what was he
to say or do? What views was he bound to hold? In what direction
should he act? There was Lady Lufton on the one side, to whom
he owed everything. How would life be possible to him in that
parsonage--within a few yards of her elbow--if he consented to
receive Lord Lufton as the acknowledged suitor of his sister? It
would be a great match for Lucy, doubtless; but-- Indeed, he could
not bring himself to believe that Lucy could in truth become the
absolute reigning queen of Framley Court.

"Do you think that Fanny knows anything of all this?" he said after
a moment or two.

"I cannot possibly tell. If she does it is not with my knowledge. I
should have thought that you could best answer that."

"I cannot answer it at all," said Mark. "I, at least, have had no
remotest idea of such a thing."

"Your ideas of it now need not