as my wife."

"Am I to understand that you are--are engaged to her?"

"Well, I cannot say that I am--not actually engaged to her. But you
may take this for granted, that, as far as it lies in my power, I
intend to become so. My mind is made up, and I certainly shall not
alter it."

"And the young lady knows all this?"

"Certainly."

"Horrid, sly, detestable, underhand girl," Lady Lufton said to
herself, not being by any means brave enough to speak out such
language before her son. What hope could there be if Lord Lufton had
already committed himself by a positive offer? "And her brother, and
Mrs. Robarts; are they aware of it?"

"Yes; both of them."

"And both approve of it?"

"Well, I cannot say that. I have not seen Mrs. Robarts, and do not
know what may be her opinion. To speak my mind honestly about Mark,
I do not think he does cordially approve. He is afraid of you, and
would be desirous of knowing what you think."

"I am glad, at any rate, to hear that," said Lady Lufton, gravely.
"Had he done anything to encourage this, it would have been very
base." And then there was another short period of silence. Lord
Lufton had determined not to explain to his mother the whole state
of the case. He would not tell her that everything depended on her
word--that Lucy was ready to marry him only on condition that she,
Lady Lufton, would desire her to do so. He would not let her know
that everything depended on her--according to Lucy's present verdict.
He had a strong disinclination to ask his mother's permission to get
married; and he would have to ask it were he to tell her the whole
truth. His object was to make her think well of Lucy, and to induce
her to be kind, and generous, and affectionate down at Framley. Then
things would all turn out comfortably when he again visited that
place, as he intended to do on his return from Norway. So much he
thought it possible he might effect, relying on his mother's probable
calculation that it would be useless for her to oppose a measure
which she had no power of stopping by authority. But were he to tell
her that she was to be the final judge, that everything was to depend
on her will, then, so thought Lord Lufton, that permission would in
all probability be refused.

"Well, mother, what answer do you intend to give me?" he said. "My
mind is positively made up. I should not have come to you had not
that been the case. You will now be going down home, and I would wish
yo