life, he might possibly work up to
this;--but for the present he must retire into dim domestic security
and the neighbourhood of Regent's Park. He sat looking at the letter,
telling himself that he was now, at this moment, deciding his own
fate in life. And he again muttered the Quaker's advice, "Doan't thou
marry for munny, but goa where munny is!" It may be said, however,
that no man ever writes such a letter, and then omits to send it. He
walked out of the Temple with it in his hand, and dropped it into
a pillar letter-box just outside the gate. As the envelope slipped
through his fingers, he felt that he had now bound himself to his
fate.

CHAPTER XIV

"Doan't Thou Marry for Munny"

As that Saturday afternoon wore itself away, there was much
excitement at Fawn Court. When Lady Fawn returned with the carriage,
she heard that Frank Greystock had been at Fawn Court; and she heard
also, from Augusta, that he had been rambling about the grounds alone
with Lucy Morris. At any exhibition of old ladies, held before a
competent jury, Lady Fawn would have taken a prize on the score of
good humour. No mother of daughters was ever less addicted to scold
and to be fretful. But just now she was a little unhappy. Lizzie's
visit had not been a success, and she looked forward to her son's
marriage with almost unmixed dismay. Mrs. Hittaway had written daily,
and in all Mrs. Hittaway's letters some addition was made to the evil
things already known. In her last letter Mrs. Hittaway had expressed
her opinion that even yet "Frederic" would escape. All this Lady Fawn
had, of course, not told to her daughters generally. To the eldest,
Augusta, it was thought expedient to say nothing, because Augusta had
been selected as the companion of the, alas! too probable future Lady
Fawn. But to Amelia something did leak out, and it became apparent
that the household was uneasy. Now,--as an evil added to this,--Frank
Greystock had been there in Lady Fawn's absence, walking about the
grounds alone with Lucy Morris. Lady Fawn could hardly restrain
herself. "How could Lucy be so very wrong?" she said, in the hearing
both of Augusta and Amelia.

Lizzie Eustace did not hear this; but knowing very well that a
governess should not receive a lover in the absence of the lady of
the house, she made her little speech about it. "Dear Lady Fawn," she
said, "my cousin Frank came to see me while you were out."

"So I hear," said Lady Fawn.

"Fran