l accept Sir Griffin, and just get a home round yourself,
you'll find that everything will be happy. It all comes from the
dreadful uncertainty. Do you think I have suffered nothing? Carbuncle
is always threatening that he'll go back to New York, and as for Lord
George, he treats me that way I'm sometimes afraid to show my face."

"Why should you care for Lord George?"

"It's all very well to say, why should I care for him. I don't
care for him, only one doesn't want to quarrel with one's friends.
Carbuncle says he owes him money."

"I don't believe it," said Lucinda.

"And he says Carbuncle owes him money."

"I do believe that," said Lucinda.

"Between it all, I don't know which way to be turning. And now, when
there's this great opening for you, you won't know your own mind."

"I know my mind well enough."

"I tell you you'll never have such another chance. Good looks isn't
everything. You've never a word to say to anybody; and when a man
does come near you, you're as savage and cross as a bear."

"Go on, Aunt Jane."

"What with your hatings and dislikings, one would suppose you didn't
think God Almighty made men at all."

"He made some of 'em very bad," said Lucinda. "As for some others,
they're only half made. What can Sir Griffin do, do you suppose?"

"He's a gentleman."

"Then if I were a man, I should wish not to be a gentleman; that's
all. I'd a deal sooner marry a man like that huntsman, who has
something to do and knows how to do it." Again she said, "Don't worry
any more, Aunt Jane. It doesn't do any good. It seems to me that to
make myself Sir Griffin's wife would be impossible; but I'm sure
your talking won't do it." Then her aunt left her, and, having met
Lord George, at his bidding went and made civil speeches to Lizzie
Eustace.

That was on the Friday afternoon. On the Saturday afternoon Sir
Griffin, biding his time, found himself, in a ride with Lucinda,
sufficiently far from other horsemen for his purpose. He wasn't going
to stand any more nonsense. He was entitled to an answer, and he
knew that he was entitled, by his rank and position, to a favourable
answer. Here was a girl who, as far as he knew, was without a
shilling, of whose birth and parentage nobody knew anything, who
had nothing but her beauty to recommend her,--nothing but that and
a certain capacity for carrying herself in the world as he thought
ladies should carry themselves,--and she was to give herself airs
with him,