mise, as, should the Captain be accepted,
no harm would in that case be done to the Colonel. She was, however,
tolerably sure that the Captain would not be accepted. "And, if she
shouldn't take me all at once, still you might have her," suggested
the lover. As to this, which was so probable, there would be a great
difficulty. Ayala was to be seduced into coming again to Stalham if
possible,--but specially on the Colonel's behoof. In such a case it
must be done behind the Captain's back. Lady Albury saw the troubles
which were coming, but nevertheless she promised that she would see
what could be done. All this having been settled, Captain Batsby took
his leave and went off to London.

Mrs. Dosett, when she received Lady Albury's letter, was very much
surprised. She too failed to understand what there was in Ayala to
produce such a multiplicity of suitors, one after another. When
Lucy came to her and had begun to be objectionable, she had thought
that she might some day be relieved from her troubles by the girl's
marriage. Lucy, to her eyes, was beautiful, and mistress of a manner
likely to be winning in a man's eyes, though ungracious to herself.
But in regard to Ayala she had expressed nothing of the kind. Ayala
was little, and flighty, and like an elf,--as she had remarked to her
husband. But now, within twelve months, three lovers had appeared,
and each of them suitable for matrimonial purposes. She could only
tell her husband, and then tell Ayala.

"Captain Batsby! I don't believe it!" said Ayala, almost crying. If
Colonel Stubbs could not be made to assume the garb of an Angel of
Light what was she to think of Captain Batsby?

"You can read Lady Albury's letter."

"I don't want to read Lady Albury's letter. I won't see him. I don't
care what my uncle says. I don't care what anybody says. Yes, I do
know him. I remember him very well. I spoke to him once or twice, and
I did not like him at all."

"You said the same of Colonel Stubbs."

"I didn't say the same of Colonel Stubbs. He is a great deal worse
than Colonel Stubbs."

"And you said just the same of Tom."

"He is the same as Tom;--just as bad. It is no good going on about
him, Aunt Margaret. I won't see him. If I were locked up in a room
with him I wouldn't speak a word to him. He has no right to come."

"A gentleman, my dear, has always a right to ask a lady to be his
wife if he has got means."

"You always say so, Aunt Margaret, but I don't believ