and gave a loud halloo.

How far had this pretty intrigue gone? now was the question. Mr. Will
said, that at her age, Maria would be for conducting matters as rapidly
as possible, not having much time to lose. There was not a great deal of
love lost between Will and his half-sister.

"Who would sift the matter to the bottom? Scolding one party or the
other was of no avail. Threats only serve to aggravate people in such
cases. I never was in danger but once, young people," said Madame de
Bernstein, "and I think that was because my poor mother contradicted me.
If this boy is like others of his family, the more we oppose him, the
more entete he will be; and we shall never get him out of his scrape."

"Faith, ma'am, suppose we leave him in it?" grumbled Will. "Old Maria
and I don't love each other too much, I grant you; but an English earl's
daughter is good enough for an American tobacco-planter, when all is
said and done."

Here his mother and sister broke out. They would not hear of such a
union. To which Will answered, "You are like the dog in the manger. You
don't want the man yourself, Fanny"

"I want him, indeed!" cries Lady Fanny, with a toss of her head.

"Then why grudge him to Maria? I think Castlewood wants her to have
him."

"Why grudge him to Maria, sir?" cried Madame de Bernstein, with great
energy. "Do you remember who the poor boy is, and what your house owes
to his family? His grandfather was the best friend your father ever had,
and gave up this estate, this title, this very castle, in which you
are conspiring against the friendless Virginian lad, that you and yours
might profit by it. And the reward for all this kindness is, that you
all but shut the door on the child when he knocks at it, and talk of
marrying him to a silly elderly creature who might be his mother! He
shan't marry her."

"The very thing we were saying and thinking, my dear Baroness!"
interposes Lady Castlewood. "Our part of the family is not eager about
the match, though my lord and Maria may be."

"You would like him for yourself, now that you hear he is rich--and may
be richer, young people, mind you that," cried Madam Beatrix, turning
upon the other women.

"Mr. Warrington may be ever so rich, madam, but there is no need why
your ladyship should perpetually remind us that we are poor," broke
in Lady Castlewood, with some spirit. "At least there is very little
disparity in Fanny's age and Mr. Harry's; and you surely will