s after the transactions which are here recorded, he
never gave way in reference to the case that had been tried. If the
lawyers had persevered as they ought to have done, it would have been
found out that the Countess was no Countess, that the Lady Anna was
no Lady Anna, and that all the money had belonged by right to the
Earl. With that belief,--with that profession of belief,--he went to
his grave an old man of eighty.

In the meantime he consented that the invitation should be given. The
Countess and her daughter were to be asked to Yoxham;--the use of the
parish church was to be offered for the ceremony; he was to propose
to marry them; the Earl was to give the bride away; and Daniel
Thwaite the tailor was to be asked to dine at Yoxham Rectory on the
day before the marriage! The letters were to be written from the
rectory by aunt Julia, and the Earl was to add what he pleased for
himself. "I suppose this sort of trial is sent to us for our good,"
said the rector to his wife that night in the sanctity of their
bedroom.

CHAPTER XLVII.

THINGS ARRANGE THEMSELVES.

But the Countess never gave way an inch. The following was the answer
which she returned to the note written to her by aunt Julia;--

"The Countess Lovel presents her compliments to Miss Lovel. The
Countess disapproves altogether of the marriage which is about to
take place between Lady Anna Lovel and Mr. Daniel Thwaite, and will
take no part in the ceremony."

"By heavens,--she is the best Lovel of us all," said the rector when
he read the letter.

This reply was received at Yoxham three days before any answer came
either from Lady Anna or from the tailor. Daniel had received his
communication from the young lord, who had called him "Dear Mr.
Thwaite," who had written quite familiarly about the coming nuptials
with "his cousin Anna,"--had bade him come down and join the family
"like a good fellow,"--and had signed himself, "Yours always most
sincerely, Lovel." "It almost takes my breath away," said the tailor
to his sweetheart, laughing.

"They are cousins, you know," said Lady Anna. "And there was a little
girl there I loved so much."

"They can't but despise me, you know," said the tailor.

"Why should any one despise you?"

"No one should,--unless I be mean and despicable. But they do,--you
may be sure. It is only human nature that they should. We are made of
different fabric,--though the stuff was originally the same. I don't
th