for you," said the Serjeant, wishing with all his
heart that he had never been persuaded to take a step which imposed
upon him so great a difficulty. "I did send for you. Lady Anna Lovel
has expressed a wish to see you, before she leaves London."

"I will wait upon Lady Anna Lovel."

"I need hardly tell you that her wish has been opposed by her
friends."

"No doubt it was."

"But she has said with so much earnestness that she cannot consider
herself to be absolved from the promise which she made to you when
she was a child--"

"She was no child when she made it."

"It does not signify. She cannot be absolved from the promise which I
suppose she did make--"

"She certainly made it, Serjeant Bluestone."

"Will you allow me to continue my statement? It will not occupy you
long. She assures her mother that she cannot consider herself to be
absolved from that promise without your sanction. She has been living
in my house for some weeks, and I do not myself doubt in the least
that were she thus freed an alliance would soon be arranged between
her and her cousin."

"I have heard of that--alliance."

"It would be in every respect a most satisfactory and happy marriage.
The young Earl has behaved with great consideration and forbearance
in abstaining from pushing his claims."

"In abstaining from asking for that which he did not believe to be
his own."

"You had better hear me to the end, Mr. Thwaite. All the friends of
the two young people desire it. The Earl himself is warmly attached
to his cousin."

"So am I,--and have been for many years."

"We all believe that she loves him."

"Let her say so to me, Serjeant Bluestone, and there shall be an end
of it all. It seems to me that Lord Lovel and I have different ideas
about a woman. I would not take the hand of a girl who told me that
she loved another man, even though she was as dear to me, as,--as
Lady Anna is dear to me now. And as for what she might have in
her hand, it would go for naught with me, though I might have to
face beggary without her. It seems to me that Lord Lovel is less
particular in this matter."

"I do not see that you and I have anything to do with that," replied
the Serjeant, hardly knowing what to say.

"I have nothing to do with Lord Lovel, certainly,--nor has he with
me. As to his cousin,--it is for her to choose."

"We think,--I am only telling you what we think;--but we think, Mr.
Thwaite, that the young lady's affections are