OR TO HIS LORDSHIP.

Lord George Maudlaine had been making rather a long stay at Merland; but
things were, he told himself, going on very satisfactorily. Brace
seemed to have been driven off, and in a few days would be at sea. Sir
Murray was all that could be desired, and favoured more strongly than
ever the matrimonial projects of his lordship, telling him, with a grim
smile, that he need fear no rival now. In fact, at times, his lordship
thought him almost too eager, and tried to make out whether, by any
means, he was going to be what he called "taken in." He was lying one
morning about nine o'clock, indolently going over the matter in his not
very logical mind. He had had a cup of coffee brought him by his valet,
and had added to the dense odour he had already imparted to the pale
blue satin hangings of his bed, by smoking a cigar, and spilling the ash
about the delicate linen in which he lay.

"Let me see," said his lordship, yawning, and going over the matter for
the twentieth time. "I don't think I can get anything more out of it.
I can't see how it can prove a `sell.' She's very pretty and lady-like,
and well-bred, and all that sort of thing. Don't much care for me, but
then, that don't matter. The Castle, and every penny the old man has,
comes to her at his death, and he comes down handsome as to marriage
settlements. Why, there can't be anything wrong, though the more she
hangs away, the more he pushes the matter forward. I'd run back in a
moment if I thought I was being `done'; but, then, I don't see how I can
be; and, besides, it was my own seeking at first. It's all right, and
in a few months I shall be able to shake myself clear of those precious
Hebrews. Come in! Well, Willis?"

"Gentleman wishes to see your lordship on important business."

"Must be some one wants his little bill," thought his lordship. "Tell
him I'm particularly engaged," he said, aloud. "What the deuce does he
mean by coming at such an hour as this? Know who it is?"

"Yes, my lord," said the valet, meaningly, for as his own salary was
regularly paid, and his perquisites were many, he had a very profound
contempt for all duns. "Think it's Mr Braham, my lord."

"What?" exclaimed his lordship, completely thrown off his equanimity,
for he had judged the visitor to be one of the tradesmen of the little
town--one of the unfortunates whom he had favoured with his orders.
"You don't mean to say--"

"Come down to Marshto