ot to see Lady Mary. Lady Cantrip
would perhaps see you."

"She is acting the part of--duenna."

"As I should do also, if Lady Mary were staying with me. You don't
suppose that if she were here I would let her see you in my house
without her father's leave?"

"I suppose not."

"Certainly not; and therefore I conceive that Lady Cantrip will not
do so either."

"I wish she were here."

"It would be of no use. I should be a dragon in guarding her."

"I wish you would let me feel that you were like a sister to me in
this matter."

"But I am not your sister, nor yet your aunt, nor yet your
grandmother. What I mean is that I cannot be on your side."

"Can you not?"

"No, Mr. Tregear. Think how long I have known these other people."

"But just now you said that he was your enemy."

"I did say so; but as I have unsaid it since, you as a gentleman will
not remember my words. At any rate I cannot help you in this."

"I shall write to her."

"It can be nothing to me. If you write she will show your letter
either to her father or to Lady Cantrip."

"But she will read it first."

"I cannot tell how that may be. In fact I am the very last person in
the world to whom you should come for assistance in this matter. If
I gave any assistance to anybody I should be bound to give it to the
Duke."

"I cannot understand that, Mrs. Finn."

"Nor can I explain it, but it would be so. I shall always be very
glad to see you, and I do feel that we ought to be friends,--because
I took such a liberty with you. But in this matter I cannot help
you."

When she said this he had to take his leave. It was impossible that
he should further press his case upon her, though he would have been
very glad to extract from her some kindly word. It is such a help in
a difficulty to have somebody who will express even a hope that the
difficulty is perhaps not invincible! He had no one to comfort him in
this matter. There was one dear friend,--as a friend dearer than any
other,--to whom he might go, and who would after some fashion bid him
prosper. Mabel would encourage him. She had said that she would do
so. But in making that promise she had told him that Romeo would not
have spoken of his love for Juliet to Rosaline, whom he had loved
before he saw Juliet. No doubt she had gone on to tell him that he
might come to her and talk freely of his love for Lady Mary,--but
after what had been said before, he felt that he could not do so
without