e tenor of his life. The
champagne and the woodcocks,--or whatever might be the special
delicacies of the season,--he did avoid. For some few days he
absolutely dined upon a cut of mutton at an eating-house, and as he
came forth from the unsavoury doors of the establishment regarded
himself as a hero. Cabbages and cradles for ever! he would say to
himself, as he went away to drink a cup of tea with an old maiden
aunt, who was no less surprised than gratified by his new virtue.
Therefore, when it had at last absolutely come home to him that
the last little note had in truth been written by Gertrude with no
object of revenge, but with the intention of once more alluring
him into the wealth of Lombard Street, he simply put it into his
breastcoat-pocket, and left it there unanswered.

Mudbury Docimer did not satisfy himself with writing the very
uncourteous letter which the reader has seen, but proceeded to do his
utmost to prevent the threatened marriage. "She is old enough to look
after herself," he had said, as though all her future actions must be
governed by her own will. But within ten days of the writing of that
letter he had found it expedient to go down into the country, and
to take his sister with him. As the head of the Docimer family he
possessed a small country-house almost in the extremity of Cornwall;
and thither he went. It was a fraternal effort made altogether on his
sister's behalf, and was so far successful that Imogene was obliged
to accompany him. It was all very well for her to feel that as
she was of age she could do as she pleased. But a young lady is
constrained by the exigencies of society to live with somebody. She
cannot take a lodging by herself, as her brother may do. Therefore,
when Mudbury Docimer went down to Cornwall, Imogene was obliged to
accompany him.

"Is this intended for banishment?" she said to him, when they had
been about a week in the country.

"What do you call banishment? You used to like the country in the
spring." It was now the middle of April.

"So I do, and in summer also. But I like nothing under constraint."

"I am sorry that circumstances should make it imperative upon me to
remain here just at present."

"Why cannot you tell the truth, Mudbury?"

"Have I told you any falsehood?"

"Why do you not say outright that I have been brought down here to be
out of Frank Houston's way?"

"Because Frank Houston is a name which I do not wish to mention to
you again,-