ED THEMSELVES AT NONINGSBY

We must now go back to Noningsby for one concluding chapter, and then
our work will be completed. "You are not to go away from Noningsby
when the trial is over, you know. Mamma said that I had better tell
you so." It was thus that Madeline had spoken to Felix Graham as he
was going out to the judge's carriage on the last morning of the
celebrated great Orley Farm case, and as she did so she twisted one
of her little fingers into one of his buttonholes. This she did with
a prettiness of familiarity, and the assumption of a right to give
him orders and hold him to obedience, which was almost intoxicating
in its sweetness. And why should she not be familiar with him? Why
should she not hold him to obedience by his buttonhole? Was he not
her own? Had she not chosen him and taken him up to the exclusion of
all other such choosings and takings?

"I shall not go till you send me," he said, putting up his hand as
though to protect his coat, and just touching her fingers as he did
so.

"Mamma says it will be stupid for you in the mornings, but it will
not be worse for you than for Augustus. He stays till after Easter."

"And I shall stay till after Whitsuntide unless I am turned out."

"Oh! but you will be turned out. I am not going to make myself
answerable for any improper amount of idleness. Papa says you have
got all the law courts to reform."

"There must be a double Hercules for such a set of stables as that,"
said Felix; and then with the slight ceremony to which I have before
adverted he took his leave for the day.

"I suppose there will be no use in delaying it," said Lady Staveley
on the same morning as she and her daughter sat together in the
drawing-room. They had already been talking over the new engagement
by the hour, together; but that is a subject on which mothers
with marriageable daughters never grow tired, as all mothers and
marriageable daughters know full well.

"Oh! mamma, I think it must be delayed."

"But why, my love? Mr. Graham has not said so?"

"You must call him Felix, mamma. I'm sure it's a nice name."

"Very well, my dear, I will."

"No; he has said nothing yet. But of course he means to wait
till,--till it will be prudent."

"Men never care for prudence of that kind when they are really in
love;--and I'm sure he is."

"Is he, mamma?"

"He will marry on anything or nothing. And if you speak to him he
tells you of how the young ravens were fed. But