I know very well who has a fair prospect of becoming
the next Countess of Hurstmonceux, if She pleases!" replied Mr.
Middleton, with a merry glance at his niece.

Claudia, who had been a silent, thoughtful, and attentive listener to
their conversation, did not reply, but smothered a sigh and turned to
look out of the window. The carriage was just drawing up before their
own gate.

The whole face of the house was closed and darkened except one little
light that burned in a small front window at the very top of the house.

It was Ishmael's lamp; and, as plainly as if she had been in the room,
Claudia in imagination saw the pale young face bent studiously over the
volume lying open before him.

With another inward sigh Claudia gave her hand to her uncle, who had
left the carriage to help her out. And then the whole party entered the
house, where they were admitted by sleepy Jim.

And in another half hour they were all in repose.

CHAPTER LIII.

THE VISCOUNT VINCENT.

A king may make a belted knight,
A marquis, duke and a' that,
But an honest man's aboon his might
Gude faith he mauna fa' that!
For a' that and a' that,
Their dignities and a' that,
The pith o' sense and pride o' worth
Are higher ranks than a' that.

--_Robert Burns_.

The next morning Ishmael and Bee, the only hard workers in the family,
were the first to make their appearance in the breakfast room. They had
both been up for hours--Ishmael in the library, answering letters, and
Bee in the nursery, seeing that the young children were properly washed,
dressed, and fed. And now, at the usual hour, they came down, a little
hungry, and impatient for the morning meal. But for some time no one
joined them. All seemed to be sleeping off the night's dissipation. Bee
waited nearly an hour, and then said:

"Ishmael, I will not detain you longer. I know that you wish to go to
the courthouse, to watch the Emerson trial; so I will ring for
breakfast. Industrious people must not be hindered by the tardiness of
lazy ones," she added, with a smile, as she put her hand to the
bell-cord.

Ishmael was about to protest against the breakfast being hurried on his
account, when the matter was settled by the entrance of Judge Merlin,
followed by Mr. Middleton and Claudia. After the morning salutations had
passed, the judge said:

"You may ring for breakfast, Claudia, my dear. We will not wait for your
aunt, since your uncle tells