ing as to feel himself safe
in abandoning all power of receding; but the effect of this had been
to put the rector himself, rather than his guest, into the back
ground. The servants had believed in her, and even Mrs. Grimes had
spoken in her praise,--expressing an opinion that she was almost good
enough for the young Earl. All Yoxham had known that the two young
people were to be married, and all Yoxham had been satisfied. But now
everything was wrong. The Earl had fled, and all Yoxham knew that
everything was wrong. It was impossible that her position should be
as it had been.

There were consultations behind her back as to what should be done,
of which,--though she heard no word of them,--she was aware. She went
out daily in the carriage with Mrs. Lovel, but aunt Julia did not go
with them. Aunt Julia on these occasions remained at home discussing
the momentous affair with her brother. What should be done? There
was a great dinner-party, specially convened to do honour to the
Earl's return, and not among them a single guest who had not heard
that there was to be a marriage. The guests came to see, not only
the Earl, but the Earl's bride. When they arrived the Earl had
flown. Mrs. Lovel expressed her deep sorrow that business of great
importance had made it necessary that the Earl should go to London.
Lady Anna was, of course, introduced to the strangers; but it
was evident to the merest tyro in such matters, that she was not
introduced as would have been a bride expectant. They had heard how
charming she was, how all the Lovels had accepted her, how deeply was
the Earl in love; and, lo, she sat in the house silent and almost
unregarded. Of course, the story of the lawsuit, with such variations
as rumour might give it, was known to them all. A twelvemonth
ago,--nay, at a period less remote than that,--the two female
claimants in Cumberland had always been spoken of in those parts as
wretched, wicked, vulgar impostors. Then came the reaction. Lady Anna
was the heiress, and Lady Anna was to be the Countess. It had flown
about the country during the last ten days that there was no one like
the Lady Anna. Now they came to see her, and another reaction had set
in. She was the Lady Anna they must suppose. All the Lovels, even the
rector, so called her. Mrs. Lovel introduced her as Lady Anna Lovel,
and the rector,--hating himself as he did so,--led her out to dinner
though there was a baronet's wife in the room,--the wife of