r charm in her hand, and
added, "I must tell you that so far as I can without disobedience, I
hold myself engaged to Frank Charnock."

"To Frank Charnock?" repeated Lady Susan, startled at this positive
statement. "My dear, are you quite sure of his ways?--since he has
been in town I mean."

"I know him, and I trust him."

"I'm sure he is a fine-looking young man, and very clever, they say;
dear Julia Poynsett's son too, and they have all turned out so
well," said honest Lady Susan; "but though you have been used to it
all your life, my dear, a taste for horses is very dangerous in a
young man who can't afford to lose now and then, you know."

"I have seriously made up my mind never to marry a man who has
anything to do with the turf," said Eleonora.

"Ah, my poor dear, I can understand that," said Lady Susan, aware
how ill this told for her Lory. "May I ask, does he know it?"

"It would insult him to say it. None of the Charnocks ever meddle
with those things. Ah! I know your son saw him on the Derby-day;
but he went down with his eldest brother and his wife--and _that_ is
a very different thing! I stayed at home, you remember--papa had a
fit of the gout."

"My dear, I don't want to accuse him. Don't bristle up; only I am
sorry, both for my own little plan of having you for my _very_ own,
and because I fear there is trouble in store for you. It can't be
palatable." Here Eleonora shook her head, and her worn, wearied
look went to the good-natured heart. "Dear child, you have gone
through a great deal. You shan't be worried or fretted about
anybody or anything at Revelrig."

"I should be very glad," said Lenore, who had no fears of Lory
personally, though she could not be invited on false pretences.

"You had better come when Bee and Conny meet me. Let me see--will
the retreat be over by that time? Are you going to it? You are an
associate of St. Faith."

"Yes, but I don't see how I could go to the retreat. Oh, what a
relief it would be to have such a week!"

"Exactly what I feel," said Lady Susan, somewhat to her surprise.
"It strengthens and sets me right for the year. Dr. Easterby
conducts this one. Do you not know him? Is not Rood House near
Backsworth?"

"Yes on the other side, but he is utterly out of my reach. Julius
Charnock looks up to him so much; but his name--even more than St.
Faith's--would horrify my father."

"You could not go direct there," said Lady Susan; "but when o