et, but it
was apparently undiscovered, so she went on.

"I don't expect Lady Maude will be very willing; she always opposes
us, does she not?"

"Sometimes," said Margaret drily.

"He is not so rich as De la Zouch," pursued Dorothy, "so I don't think
she will agree to it at first."

"To what? What do you mean? Father Philip's accident has turned your
head, I verily believe," replied her sister, as a terrible suspicion
of the truth flashed into her imagination.

"Nay, Meg, dear, listen. I have plighted my troth to-night."

Margaret jumped from her seat as if stung, and her face turned livid
with anger.

"What!" she exclaimed, "you have dared to plight your troth to Master
Manners?"

"To John Manners, yes."

Her voice was quiet and her bearing firm, nor was she half so agitated
as her sister, a fact which Margaret was slow to understand.

"Speak fair, Dorothy," she said, as she tried to persuade herself that
she had misunderstood her meaning. "None of your riddles for me. You
are joking, surely."

"Nay, I am in earnest, Meg. Ask him yourself; he will tell you whether
I was joking an hour ago. De la Zouch knows I would perish rather
than be his countess. I told him so myself. And oh! Meg, dear, I am so
happy now, for I love John Manners so very, very much."

"'Tis a sad night's work for _you_", burst out Margaret. "What right
have you, prithee, to make arrangements such as these? You are to be
betrothed to a brother of Sir Thomas Stanley. Edward is coming from
the Isle of Man within a month to arrange it all, and a nice affair
have you made it with your forwardness."

"Edward Stanley?" echoed Doll, in blank dismay.

"Yes, surely."

"Never," she replied, decisively; "I will have none of him, nor could
I if I would. I am betrothed already."

"You foolish child," returned Margaret. I must rate this Master
Manners for his presumption. Sir Thomas will have talked the matter
over with your father ere now, as they journeyed up to London."

"It will be of no use even if he has. John Manners has my pledge, and
I shall keep it with him, too."

"Tut, child, this is idle talk. By now the matter is all arranged
for you, and very thankful ought you to be. If Master Manners is a
gentleman----"

"He _is_ a gentleman."

"He will think no more about you, then, after he knows the facts,"
said Margaret sharply, and passing out of the room she left Dorothy
alone to her tears, while she tried to discover the happy es