Linlithgow, had but seven hundred
pounds. Lady Fawn with all her daughters had not near so much as she
had. And she was beautiful, too, and young, and perfectly free to do
what she pleased. No doubt the last eighteen months of her life had
been made wretched by those horrid diamonds;--but they were gone, and
she had fair reason to hope that the very knowledge of them was gone
also.

In this condition would it be expedient for her to accept Lord Fawn
when he came? She could not, of course, be sure that any renewed
offer would be the result of his visit;--but she thought it probable
that with care she might bring him to that. Why should he come to her
if he himself had no such intention? Her mind was quite made up on
this point,--that he should be made to renew his offer; but whether
she would renew her acceptance was quite another question. She had
sworn to her cousin Frank that she would never do so, and she had
sworn also that she would be revenged on this wretched lord. Now
would be her opportunity of accomplishing her revenge, and of proving
to Frank that she had been in earnest. And she positively disliked
the man. That, probably, did not go for much, but it went for
something, even with Lizzie Eustace. Her cousin she did like,--and
Lord George. She hardly knew which was her real love;--though, no
doubt, she gave the preference greatly to her cousin, because she
could trust him. And then Lord Fawn was very poor. The other two
men were poor also; but their poverty was not so objectionable in
Lizzie's eyes as were the respectable, close-fisted economies of
Lord Fawn. Lord Fawn, no doubt, had an assured income and a real
peerage, and could make her a peeress. As she thought of it all, she
acknowledged that there was a great deal to be said on each side, and
that the necessity of making up her mind then and there was a heavy
burthen upon her.

Exactly at the hour named Lord Fawn came, and Lizzie was, of course,
found alone. That had been carefully provided. He was shown up, and
she received him very gracefully. She was sitting, and she rose from
her chair, and put out her hand for him to take. She spoke no word
of greeting, but looked at him with a pleasant smile, and stood
for a few seconds with her hand in his. He was awkward, and much
embarrassed, and she certainly had no intention of lessening his
embarrassment. "I hope you are better than you have been," he said at
last.

"I am getting better, Lord Fawn. Will