rt,
only--only--only--" Yes, he knew very well what she meant. I shall
never be called upon to break my heart, because you are not a false
scoundrel. If you were a false scoundrel,--instead of being, as you
are, a pearl among men,--then I should break my heart. That was what
Lucy meant. She could not have been much clearer, and he understood
it perfectly. It is very nice to walk about one's own borough and be
voted unanimously worthy of confidence, and be a great man; but if
you are a scoundrel, and not used to being a scoundrel, black care
is apt to sit very close behind you as you go caracoling along the
streets.

Lucy's letter required an answer, and how should he answer it? He
certainly did not wish her to tell Lady Linlithgow of her engagement,
but Lucy clearly wished to be allowed to tell, and on what ground
could he enjoin her to be silent? He knew, or he thought he knew,
that till he answered the letter, she would not tell his secret,--and
therefore from day to day he put off the answer. A man does not write
a love-letter easily when he is in doubt himself whether he does or
does not mean to be a scoundrel.

Then there came a letter to "Dame" Greystock from Lady Linlithgow,
which filled them all with amazement.

MY DEAR MADAM,--[began the letter]

Seeing that your son is engaged to marry Miss Morris,--at
least she says so,--you ought not to have sent her here
without telling me all about it. She says you know of the
match, and she says that I can write to you if I please.
Of course, I can do that without her leave. But it seems
to me that if you know all about it, and approve the
marriage, your house and not mine would be the proper
place for her.

I'm told that Mr. Greystock is a great man. Any lady
being with me as my companion can't be a great woman. But
perhaps you wanted to break it off;--else you would have
told me. She shall stay here six months, but then she must
go.

Yours truly,

SUSANNA LINLITHGOW.

It was considered absolutely necessary that this letter should be
shown to Frank. "You see," said his mother, "she told the old lady at
once."

"I don't see why she shouldn't." Nevertheless Frank was annoyed.
Having asked for permission, Lucy should at least have waited for a
reply.

"Well, I don't know," said Mrs. Greystock. "It is generally
considered that young ladies are more reticent about such things. She
has blurted it out and boa