niel; it is open no longer."

"The choice is open to you. If you will tell me that your heart is so
set upon being the bride of a lord, that truth and honesty and love,
and all decent feeling from woman to man can be thrown to the wind,
to make way for such an ambition,--I will say not a word against it.
You are free."

"Have I asked for freedom?"

"No, indeed! Had you done so, I should have made all this much
shorter."

"Then why do you harass me by saying it?"

"Because it is my duty. Can I know that he comes here seeking you for
his wife; can I hear it said on all sides that this family feud is to
be settled by a happy family marriage; can I find that you yourself
are willing to love him as a cousin or a brother,--without finding
myself compelled to speak? There are two men seeking you as their
wife. One can make you a countess; the other simply an honest man's
wife, and, so far as that can be low, lower than that title of your
own which they will not allow you to put before your name. If I am
still your choice, give me your hand." Of course she gave it him.
"So be it; and now I shall fear nothing." Then she told him that it
was intended that she should go to Yoxham as a visitor; but still he
declared that he would fear nothing.

Early on the next morning he called on Mr. Goffe, the attorney, with
the object of making some inquiry as to the condition of the lawsuit.
Mr. Goffe did not much love the elder tailor, but he specially
disliked the younger. He was not able to be altogether uncivil to
them, because he knew all that they had done to succour his client;
but he avoided them when it was possible, and was chary of giving
them information. On this occasion Daniel asked whether it was true
that the other side had abandoned their claim.

"Really Mr. Thwaite, I cannot say that they have," said Mr. Goffe.

"Can you say that they have not?"

"No; nor that either."

"Had anything of that kind been decided, I suppose you would have
known it, Mr. Goffe?"

"Really, sir, I cannot say. There are questions, Mr. Thwaite, which a
professional gentleman cannot answer, even to such friends as you and
your father have been. When any real settlement is to be made, the
Countess Lovel will, as a matter of course, be informed."

"She should be informed at once," said Daniel Thwaite sternly: "and
so should they who have been concerned with her in this matter."

"You, I know, have heavy claims on the Countess."

"My fa