he has fifteen thousand a year. He is my
cousin. He is a very worthy young man. He must come and see me," said
Lady Rockminster, with a look at Laura.

"He has been engaged for many years past to his cousin, Lady----"

"Lady Ann is a foolish little chit," Lady Rockminster said, with much
dignity; "and I have no patience with her. She has outraged every
feeling of society. She has broken her father's heart, and thrown away
fifteen thousand a year."

"Thrown away? What has happened?" asked Pen.

"It will be the talk of the town in a day or two; and there is no need
why I should keep the secret any longer," said Lady Rockminster, who
had written and received a dozen letters on the subject. "I had a letter
yesterday from my daughter, who was staying at Drummington until all
the world was obliged to go away on account of the frightful catastrophe
which happened there. When Mr. Foker came home from Nice, and after the
funeral, Lady Ann went down on her knees to her father, said that
she never could marry her cousin, that she had contracted another
attachment, and that she must die rather than fulfil her contract. Poor
Lord Rosherville, who is dreadfully embarrassed, showed his daughter
what the state of his affairs was, and that it was necessary that the
arrangements should take place; and in fine, we all supposed that she
had listened to reason, and intended to comply with the desires of
her family. But what has happened?--last Thursday she went out
after breakfast with her maid, and was married in the very church
in Drummington Park to Mr. Hobson, her father's own chaplain and her
brother's tutor; a red-haired widower with two children. Poor dear
Rosherville is in a dreadful way: he wishes Henry Foker should marry
Alice or Barbara; but Alice is marked with the small-pox, and Barbara is
ten years older than he is. And, of course, now the young man is his own
master, he will think of choosing for himself. The blow on Lady Agnes is
very cruel. She is inconsolable. She has the house in Grosvenor Street
for her life, and her settlement, which was very handsome. Have you not
met her? Yes, she dined one day at Lady Clavering's--the first day I saw
you, and a very disagreeable young man I thought you were. But I have
formed you. We have formed him, haven't we, Laura? Where is Bluebeard?
let him come. That horrid Grindley, the dentist, will keep me in town
another week."

To the latter part of her ladyship's speech Arthur gave