Kilcullen."

"In that, Fanny, you're mistaken," said the earl; "but I don't wish to
discuss the matter with you. You must, however, fully understand this:
Lord Ballindine cannot be received under this roof. If you regret him,
you must remember that his rejection was your own act. I think you then
acted most prudently, and I trust it will not be long before you are of
the same opinion yourself," and Lord Cashel moved to the door as though
he had accomplished his part in the interview.

"Stop one moment, uncle," said Fanny, striving hard to be calm, and
hardly succeeding. "I did not ask my aunt to speak to you on this
subject, till I had turned it over and over in my mind, and resolved
that I would not make myself and another miserable for ever, because I
had been foolish enough not to know my mind. You best know whether you
can ask Lord Ballindine to Grey Abbey or not; but I am determined, if
I cannot see him here, that I will see him somewhere else," and she
turned towards the door, and then, thinking of her aunt, she turned
back and kissed her, and immediately left the room.

The countess looked up at her husband, quite dumbfounded, and he seemed
rather distressed himself. However, he muttered something about her
being a hot-headed simpleton and soon thinking better about it, and
then betook himself to his private retreat, to hold sweet converse with
his own thoughts--having first rung the bell for Griffiths, to pick up
the scattered threads of her mistress's knitting.

Lord Cashel certainly did not like the look of things. There was a
determination in Fanny's eye, as she made her parting speech, which
upset him rather, and which threw considerable difficulties in the way
of Lord Kilcullen's wooing. To be sure, time would do a great deal: but
then, there wasn't so much time to spare. He had already taken steps to
borrow the thirty thousand pounds, and had, indeed, empowered his son
to receive it: he had also pledged himself for the other fifty; and
then, after all, that perverse fool of a girl would insist on being in
love with that scapegrace, Lord Ballindine! This, however, might wear
away, and he would take very good care that she should hear of his
misdoings. It would be very odd if, after all, his plans were to be
destroyed, and his arrangements disconcerted by his own ward, and
niece--especially when he designed so great a match for her!

He could not, however, make himself quite comfortable, though he had