orge--or very probably to Caroline; but most probably
he would do something for Miss Baker; something handsome for that
soft, obedient handmaid who had never disobeyed any of his commands;
and, better still, had never drawn upon him for more than her regular
allowance.

Such were Sir Lionel's thoughts as he made his way back to
Littlebath. Yes; he would make himself acceptable to Miss Baker. That
George, old George, was not long for this world was very evident
to the colonel. He, troublesome old cross-grained churl that he
was, would soon be out of the way. Such being certain--all but
certain--could not Sir Lionel manage matters in this way? Could he
not engage himself to the lady while his brother was yet alive, and
then marry her afterwards--marry her, or perhaps not marry her,
as might then become expedient? He was well sure of this, that if
she promised to marry him before her acquisition of fortune, such
acquisition would not induce her to break off from the match. "She
is too true, too honourable for that," said Sir Lionel to himself,
feeling a warm admiration for the truth of her character, as he
resolved how he might himself best back out of such an engagement in
the event of its being expedient for him so to do.

So passed his thoughts as he made his way back to Littlebath.
And when there he did not allow idleness to mar his schemes. He
immediately began to make himself pleasant--more than ordinarily
pleasant to Miss Baker. He did not make love to her after the manner
of his youth. Had he done so, he would only have frightened the
gentle lady. But he was assiduous in his attentions, soft and sweetly
flattering in his speech, and friendly, oh, so friendly, in his
manner! He called almost every day at Montpellier Crescent. To be
sure, there was nothing unnatural in this, for was he not about to
become the father of his dear Caroline? But dear to him as his dear
Caroline might be, his softest whispers, his most sugared words, were
always for her aunt.

He had ever some little proposition to make, some kind family
suggestion to put forward. He was a man of the world; they were
ladies, delicate, unfit for coping with the world, necessarily
ignorant of its naughtier, darker ways; he would do everything for
them: and by degrees he did almost everything for Miss Baker.

And so that lady was charmed without knowing it. Let us do her full
justice. She had not the remotest idea of opening a flirtation with
Sir Lione