gs
already, and yesterday Mrs. MacHugh sent me such a
beautiful cream-jug. If you'll come in time on the 9th,
you shall see them all before they are put away.

Mamma and Priscilla are to be here, and they will come
on the 9th also. Poor, dear mamma is, I know, terribly
flurried about it, and so is Aunt Stanbury. It is so long
since they have seen each other. I don't think Priscilla
feels it the same way, because she is so brave. Do you
remember when it was first proposed that I should come
here? I am so glad I came,--because of Brooke. He will
come on the 9th, quite early, and I do so hope you will
come with him.

Yours most affectionately,

DOROTHY STANBURY.

Give my best, best love to Nora.

CHAPTER XC.

LADY ROWLEY CONQUERED.

[Illustration]

When the Rowleys were back in London, and began to employ themselves
on the terrible work of making ready for their journey to the
Islands, Lady Rowley gradually gave way about Hugh Stanbury. She had
become aware that Nora would not go back with them,--unless under an
amount of pressure which she would find it impossible to use. And if
Nora did not go out to the Islands, what was to become of her unless
she married this man? Sir Marmaduke, when all was explained to him,
declared that a girl must do what her parents ordered her to do.
"Other girls live with their fathers and mothers, and so must she."
Lady Rowley endeavoured to explain that other girls lived with their
fathers and mothers, because they found themselves in established
homes from which they are not disposed to run away; but Nora's
position was, as she alleged, very different. Nora's home had
latterly been with her sister, and it was hardly to be expected
that the parental authority should not find itself impaired by the
interregnum which had taken place. Sir Marmaduke would not see the
thing in the same light, and was disposed to treat his daughter with
a high hand. If she would not do as she was bidden, she should no
longer be daughter of his. In answer to this Lady Rowley could only
repeat her conviction that Nora would not go out to the Mandarins;
and that as for disinheriting her, casting her off, cursing her, and
the rest,--she had no belief in such doings at all. "On the stage
they do such things as that," she said; "and, perhaps, they used to
do it once in reality. But you know that it's out of the question,
now. Fancy your standing up and