hing it on the rocks? Rocks there were. She
didn't quite know what to make of Lord George, who certainly was a
Corsair,--who had said some very pretty things to her, quite a la
Corsair. But in the meantime, from certain rumours that she heard,
she believed that Frank had given up, or at least was intending
to give up, the little chit who was living with Lady Linlithgow.
There had been something of a quarrel,--so, at least, she had heard
through Miss Macnulty, with whom Lady Linlithgow still occasionally
corresponded in spite of their former breaches. From Frank, Lizzie
heard repeatedly, but Frank in his letters never mentioned the name
of Lucy Morris. Now, if there should be a division between Frank and
Lucy, then, she thought, Frank would return to her. And if so, for a
permanent holding rock of protection in the world, her cousin Frank
would be at any rate safer than the Corsair.

Lizzie and Mrs. Carbuncle had quite come to understand each other
comfortably about money. It suited Mrs. Carbuncle very well to remain
at Portray. It was no longer necessary that she should carry Lucinda
about in search of game to be run down. The one head of game needed
had been run down, such as it was,--not, indeed, a very noble stag;
but the stag had been accepted; and a home for herself and her niece,
which should have about it a sufficient air of fashion to satisfy
public opinion,--out of London,--better still, in Scotland, belonging
to a person with a title, enjoying the appurtenances of wealth, and
one to which Lord George and Sir Griffin could have access,--was very
desirable. But it was out of the question that Lady Eustace should
bear all the expense. Mrs. Carbuncle undertook to find the stables,
and did pay for that rick of hay and for the cart-load of forage
which had made Lizzie's heart quake as she saw it dragged up the hill
towards her own granaries. It is very comfortable when all these
things are clearly understood. Early in January they were all to go
back to London. Then for a while,--up to the period of Lucinda's
marriage,--Lizzie was to be Mrs. Carbuncle's guest at the small house
in Mayfair;--but Lizzie was to keep the carriage. There came at last
to be some little attempt, perhaps, at a hard bargain at the hand of
each lady, in which Mrs. Carbuncle, as the elder, probably got the
advantage. There was a question about the liveries in London. The
footman there must appertain to Mrs. Carbuncle, whereas the coachman
wou