such as they had every
reason to expect; that every solicitation had been employed, but that
Mary had withstood all that would have been most alluring to girls
brought up to esteem mere worldly advantages. It was extremely
gratifying, the more so as the young gentleman in question might be
considered as strikingly handsome to the mere outward eye, which did
not detect the stamp of frivolity, and the effect of an early
introduction to the world of fashion and dissipation. She trusted that
their dear young heiress would have a better fate, owing to her own
wisdom, than being chosen to support the extravagance of a young titled
adventurer.

Having worked herself up into enthusiastic admiration of her own work,
Miss Ponsonby was kinder than ever to her niece, and pitied her for
being harassed with Lord Fitzjocelyn's company to Liverpool.

Mary was not as much relieved as she had expected, when her hand had
been released from his pressure, and she had seen the last glimpse of
his returning boat.

Henceforth her imagination was to picture him only with Isabel Conway.

And so Viscount Fitzjocelyn was left with more liberty than he knew
what to do with. He was disinclined to begin the pursuit of Miss
Conway, as if this would involve a want of delicacy and feeling, and he
had no other object. The world was before him, but when he drove to
the Liverpool Station, he was unwilling to exert his mind to decide for
what ticket to ask.

The bias was given by the recollection of a message from his father to
Frampton. It would be less trouble to go home than to write, and,
besides, Aunt Catharine was alone. She was his unfailing friend, and
it would be a great treat to have her to himself.

Home then he went, where he spent the long summer days in listless,
desultory, busy idleness, often alone, dreaming over last year, often
passing his evenings with his aunt, or bringing her to see his designs;
dining out whenever he was invited, and returning odd uncertain answers
when Mr. Calcott asked him what he was going to do.

Mr. Holdswolth was going to leave James in charge of his parish, and
take a walking tour in Cornwall, and perversely enough, Louis's fancy
fixed on joining him; and was much disappointed when Mrs. Frost proved,
beyond dispute, that an ankle, which a little over haste or fatigue
always rendered lame, would be an unfair drag upon a companion, and
that if he went at all, it must not be on his own feet.

At las