ress of the broad domain on which they stood.

"Let us be patient," she said. "I cannot distress this kind old lady
while she is so disturbed and so feeble. Let things take their course
till she is strong enough to endure this additional agitation. She was
greatly pleased with you that morning when you called. By degrees she
will learn to like you; and when she finds that Lord Hilton has no idea
of joining the estates by a marriage with her heiress--a thing which I
know she has at heart, but she has, as yet, only given me warning by
most delicate insinuations--your proposal will not disturb her so much."

Hepworth Closs had learned the great lessons of patience, and loved the
young girl by his side too sincerely for any protest against what was,
in fact, a necessary delay; so he answered her kindly;

"So long as we are not entirely separated, Clara, I can bear anything,
even your father's hostility, which, after all, is but natural."

"But that, too, will be swept away by grandmamma's consent; and I am
sure she loves me so much that, with patience, that may be obtained.
Besides, there is your sister, eager for your interests and pining for
your society."

"Poor Rachael! How does she bear the honors heaped upon her up yonder."

"Like an empress. Indeed, I never saw her really happy before. My father
has all at once taken to adoring her. No wonder! Happiness has made her
so grandly beautiful, so dashingly brilliant in all she says and does.
The new duke, who has just come down, is so taken with her that he
scarcely leaves her side."

"I am glad of that," exclaimed Closs. "If ever a woman was born to
control society, it is Rachael. Does she know I am here?"

"I have not told her yet. It will be time enough when all this tumult
about the heirship has abated. And perhaps it will be best to let papa
find it out in some natural way, when he will, I hope, be anxious to
recognize you as Lady Carset's guest, and make atonement for his
harshness at Oakhurst."

"What a wise little diplomat you have become, Clara!"

"Yes, I think so. It is just beginning to dawn on me that rash action is
the worst kind of selfishness; how, just by a little kindness and a
great deal of love, I, a harem-scarem girl, who never stopped to think
in my life before, have reconciled an old family feud of fifteen years
standing, brought Lady Hope triumphantly to Houghton, and swept ever so
many cares out of my father's way, besides all the little p