ded
this winter! To whom, I pray?"

"To Sir Edward Stanley."

Manners staggered back against the wall as though he had been smitten
by some invisible hand. His face blanched, his lips quivered, and he
gasped for very breath. This was news indeed, far beyond his worst
anticipations, and he was almost crushed by the blow.

The baron watched him with a feeling akin to dismay. He hated his
unpleasant task, and half regretted the promise he had made Sir Thomas
Stanley. He pitied the unfortunate esquire who stood before him, and
sincerely blamed himself for accepting the business, and the dame for
thrusting it upon him.

Manners soon rallied, much to Sir George's relief; and the two sat
down together at the little table. The baron, tried to express his
sympathy with him in his great disappointment which had just come upon
him, but his words were clumsy, and afforded no relief.

"It is not yet quite decided upon, is it?" asked the young man.

"We expect Sir Edward now at any time," the knight replied.

"But, Sir George, Dorothy has plighted her troth to me."

"Ah, we know it; Margaret has told us of it. 'Twas a foolish thing to
do."

"And Father Philip blessed the match," pursued Manners.

"But she has been promised to Edward Stanley," was the quiet reply,
"and a Vernon's promise is never broken, never."

The two remained silent awhile. Sir George had made wonderful progress
with his mission of late--a fact due to the knowledge that Lady Vernon
was standing just outside the door; and before either of them spoke
again she entered the room, and making a formal courtesy to the
visitor, she advanced to her husband's side.

"You have told Master Manners, I suppose?" she inquired in a harsh,
unfeeling voice that stabbed the lover's heart by every word.

"Yes, my dear," he replied, looking as if he were ashamed of the whole
business, "I have told him all."

"But surely you cannot understand Dorothy's feelings in the----"

"Dorothy will do as we desire," interrupted Lady Maude, severely.

"Do you really love your daughter, Sir George?" asked Manners, in
desperation. "Then I conjure you by all the affection towards her you
possess, that in this, matter you consult her happiness. I cannot live
without her, and she will fade away like a tender flower if you baulk
her choice."

"Do I love her?" repeated Sir George, impatiently. "Aye, that I do; am
I not her father?"

"Hush, Sir George," interrupted Lady Vernon, "Mas