nd
get home on the Saturday. There would then still remain nearly a
fortnight before Tom would have to leave Merle Park. After much
consideration it was decided that a note should be written to Ayala
apprising her of her aunt's coming. "I hope Lady Albury will not be
surprised at my visit," said the note, "but I am so anxious to see
you, just for half-an-hour, upon a matter of great importance, that I
shall run my chance." She would prefer to have seen the girl without
any notice; but then, had no notice been given, the girl would
perhaps have been out of the way. As it was a telegram was received
back in reply. "I shall be at home. Lady Albury will be very glad to
see you at lunch. She says there shall be a room all ready if you
will sleep."

"I certainly shall not stay there," Lady Tringle said to Mrs.
Traffick, "but it is as well to know that they will be civil to me."

"They are stuck-up sort of people I believe," said Augusta; "just
like that Marchesa Baldoni, who is one of them. But, as to their
being civil, that is a matter of course. They would hardly be uncivil
to any one connected with Lord Boardotrade!"

Then came the Thursday on which the journey was to be commenced. As
the moment came near Lady Tringle was very much afraid of the task
before her. She was afraid even of her niece Ayala, who had assumed
increased proportions in her eyes since she had persistently refused
not only Tom but also Colonel Stubbs and Captain Batsby, and then in
spite of her own connexion with Lord Boardotrade,--of whom since her
daughter's marriage she had learned to think less than she had done
before,--she did feel that the Alburys were fashionable people, and
that Ayala as their guest had achieved something for herself. Stalham
was, no doubt, superior in general estimation to Merle Park, and with
her there had been always a certain awe of Ayala, which she had not
felt in reference to Lucy. Ayala's demand that Augusta should go
upstairs and fetch the scrap-book had had its effect,--as had also
her success in going up St. Peter's and to the Marchesa's dance; and
then there would be Lady Albury herself,--and all the Alburys! Only
that Tom was very anxious, she would even now have abandoned the
undertaking.

"Mother," said Tom, on the last morning, "you will do the best you
can for me."

"Oh yes, my dear."

"I do think that, if you would make her understand the real truth,
she might have me yet. She wouldn't like that a fel