re. Was he to
come again on Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday? Let her tell him that
and he would go. He doubtless reflected that Wednesday would suit him
best, because there would be no House. But Lizzie was too magnanimous
for this. "Lord Fawn," she said, rising, "you have paid me the
greatest compliment that a man can pay a woman. Coming from you it is
doubly precious; first, because of your character; and secondly--"

"Why secondly?"

"Secondly, because I can love you." This was said in her lowest
whisper, and then she moved towards him gently, and almost laid her
head upon his breast. Of course he put his arm round her waist,--but
it was first necessary that he should once more disembarrass himself
of his hat,--and then her head was upon his breast. "Dearest Lizzie!"
he said.

"Dearest Frederic!" she murmured.

"I shall write to my mother to-night," he said.

"Do, do;--dear Frederic."

"And she will come to you at once, I am sure."

"I will receive her and love her as a mother," said Lizzie, with
all her energy. Then he kissed her again,--her forehead and her
lips,--and took his leave, promising to be with her at any rate on
Wednesday.

"Lady Fawn!" she said to herself. The name did not sound so well as
that of Lady Eustace. But it is much to be a wife; and more to be a
peeress.

CHAPTER IX

Showing What the Miss Fawns Said, and What Mrs. Hittaway Thought

In the way of duty Lord Fawn was a Hercules,--not, indeed, "climbing
trees in the Hesperides," but achieving enterprises which, to other
men, if not impossible, would have been so unpalatable as to have
been put aside as impracticable. On the Monday morning, after he was
accepted by Lady Eustace, he was with his mother at Fawn Court before
he went down to the India Office.

He had at least been very honest in the description he had given of
his own circumstances to the lady whom he intended to marry. He had
told her the exact truth; and though she, with all her cleverness,
had not been able to realise the facts when related to her so
suddenly, still enough had been said to make it quite clear that,
when details of business should hereafter be discussed in a less
hurried manner, he would be able to say that he had explained all his
circumstances before he had made his offer. And he had been careful,
too, as to her affairs. He had ascertained that her late husband had
certainly settled upon her for life an estate worth four thousand a
year.