course, and I
think Mr. Moreton is coming. He seems to think that a certain amount
of shooting ought to be done. Then I have invited Lady Mabel Grex and
Miss Cassewary,--all of papa's choosing, and the Boncassens. Now you
will know whether the set will suit you. Papa has particularly begged
that you will come,--apparently because of Lady Mabel. I don't at all
know what that means. Perhaps you do. As I like Lady Mabel, I hope
she will come." Surely Silverbridge would not run himself into the
jaws of the lion. When he heard that he was specially expected by
his father to come to Matching in order that he might make himself
agreeable to one young lady, he would hardly venture to come, seeing
that he would be bound to make love to another young lady!

To Mary's great horror, all the invitations were accepted. Mr. and
Mrs. Finn were quite at the Duke's disposal. That she had expected.
The Boncassens would all come. This was signified in a note from
Isabel, which covered four sides of the paper and was full of fun.
But under her signature had been written a few words,--not in
fun,--words which Lady Mary perfectly understood. "I wonder, I
wonder, I wonder!" Did the Duke when inviting her know anything of
his son's inclinations? Would he be made to know them now, during
this visit? And what would he say when he did know them?

That the Boncassens would come was a matter of course; but Mary had
thought that Lady Mabel would refuse. She had told Lady Mabel that
the Boncassens had been asked, and to her thinking it had not been
improbable that the young lady would be unwilling to meet her rival
at Matching. But the invitation was accepted.

But it was her brother's ready acquiescence which troubled Mary
chiefly. He wrote as though there were no doubt about the matter.
"Of course there is a deal of shooting to be done," he said, "and I
consider myself bound to look after it. There ought not to be less
than four guns,--particularly if Warburton is to be one of them. I
like Warburton very much, and I think he shoots badly to ingratiate
himself with the governor. I wonder whether the governor would get
leave for Gerald for a week. He has been sticking to his work like
a brick. If not, would he mind my bringing someone? You ask the
governor and let me know. I'll be there on the 20th. I wonder whether
they'll let me hear what goes on among them about politics. I'm sure
there is not one of them hates Sir Timothy worse than I do. Lady