e brought me his message; will you have the
goodness now to take back mine to him?"

"Do you mean at once,--this evening,--now?"

"Yes, at once,--this evening,--now;--this minute."

"Ah; he has left the club; he is not here now; he went when I came to
you."

"Then he is a coward as well as a scoundrel." In answer to which
assertion, Mr Fowler Pratt merely shrugged his shoulders.

"He is a coward as well as a scoundrel. Will you have the kindness to
tell your friend from me that he is a coward and a scoundrel,--and a
liar, sir."

"If it be so, Miss Dale is well quit of her engagement."

"That is your consolation, is it? That may be all very well nowadays;
but when I was a young man, I would sooner have burnt out my tongue
than have spoken in such a way on such a subject. I would, indeed.
Good-night, Mr Pratt. Pray make your friend understand that he has
not yet seen the last of the Dales; although, as you hint, the ladies
of that family will no doubt have learned that he is not fit to
associate with them." Then, taking up his hat, the squire made his
way out of the club.

"I would not have done it," said Pratt to himself, "for all the
beauty, and all the wealth, and all the rank that ever were owned by
a woman."

CHAPTER XXVI

Lord de Courcy in the Bosom of His Family

Lady Julia De Guest had not during her life written many letters to
Mr Dale of Allington, nor had she ever been very fond of him. But
when she felt certain how things were going at Courcy, or rather, as
we may say, how they had already gone, she took pen in hand, and set
herself to work, doing, as she conceived, her duty by her neighbour.

MY DEAR MR DALE [she said],

I believe I need make no secret of having known that your
niece Lilian is engaged to Mr Crosbie, of London. I think
it proper to warn you that if this be true Mr Crosbie is
behaving himself in a very improper manner here. I am not
a person who concerns myself much in the affairs of other
people; and under ordinary circumstances, the conduct of
Mr Crosbie would be nothing to me,--or, indeed, less than
nothing; but I do to you as I would wish that others should
do unto me. I believe it is only too true that Mr Crosbie
has proposed to Lady Alexandrina de Courcy, and been
accepted by her. I think you will believe that I would not
say this without warrant, and if there be anything in it,
it may be well, for the poor young lady'