thousand pounds is a
mere nothing. To Lord Fawn the writing of this letter was everything.
He had told Lizzie, with much exactness, what he would put into it.
He would again offer his hand,--acknowledging himself bound to do
so by his former offer,--but would give reasons why she should not
accept it. If anything should occur in the meantime which would, in
his opinion, justify him in again repudiating her, he would of course
take advantage of such circumstance. If asked himself what was his
prevailing motive in all that he did or intended to do, he would have
declared that it was above all things necessary that he should "put
himself right in the eye of the British public."

But he was not able to do this without interference from the judgment
of others. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hittaway interfered; and he could not
prevent himself from listening to them and believing them, though he
would contradict all they said, and snub all their theories. Frank
Greystock also continued to interfere, and Lady Glencora Palliser.
Even John Eustace had been worked upon to write to Lord Fawn, stating
his opinion, as trustee for his late brother's property, that the
Eustace family did not think that there was ground of complaint
against Lady Eustace in reference to the diamonds which had been
stolen. This was a terrible blow to Lord Fawn, and had come, no
doubt, from a general agreement among the Eustace faction,--including
the bishop, John Eustace, and even Mr. Camperdown,--that it would be
a good thing to get the widow married and placed under some decent
control.

Lady Glencora absolutely had the effrontery to ask him whether the
marriage was not going to take place, and when a day would be fixed.
He gathered up his courage to give her ladyship a rebuke. "My private
affairs do seem to be uncommonly interesting," he said.

"Why, yes, Lord Fawn," said Lady Glencora, whom nothing could
abash;--"most interesting. You see, dear Lady Eustace is so very
popular, that we all want to know what is to be her fate."

"I regret to say that I cannot answer your ladyship's question with
any precision," said Lord Fawn.

But the Hittaway persecution was by far the worst. "You have seen
her, Frederic?" said his sister.

"Yes,--I have."

"You have made her no promise?"

"My dear Clara, this is a matter in which I must use my own
judgment."

"But the family, Frederic?"

"I do not think that any member of our family has a just right to
complain