in tears. 

 'No, I find no fault,' he kindly said.  'Young, ardent spirits may be excused for outrunning the bounds that their elders might impose. But you have not removed my amazement. James intending to marry on the grammar-school!—it cannot be worth 300 pounds a year.' 

 'Isabel is satisfied. She never desired anything but a quiet, simple, useful life.' 

 'Your Aunt Catharine delighted, of course? No doubt of that; but what has come to Lady Conway?' 

 'She cannot help it, and makes the best of it.  She gave us very little trouble.' 

 'Ah! her own daughter is growing up,' said the Earl, significantly. 

 'Isabel is very fond of Northwold,' said Mary, feeling that Louis was wanting her sympathy.  'She used to wish she could settle there—with how little consciousness!' 

 'If I had to judge in such a case,' said Lord Ormersfield, thoughtfully, 'I should hesitate to risk a woman's happiness with a temper such as that of James Frost.' 

 'Oh, father!' cried Louis, indignantly. 

 'I suspect,' said Lord Ormersfield, smiling, 'that of late years, James's temper has been more often displayed towards me than towards you.' 

 'A certain proof how safe his wife will be,' returned Louis. 

 His father shook his head, and looking from one to the other of the young people, congratulated himself that here, at least, there were no perils of that description. He asked how long the attachment had existed. 

 'From the moment of first sight,' said Louis; 'the fine spark was lighted on the Euston Square platform; and it was not much later with her. He filled up her beau ideal of goodness—' 

 'And, in effect, all Lady Conway's pursuit of you threw them together,' said Lord Ormersfield, much entertained. 

 'Lady Conway has been their very best friend, without intending it. It would not have come to a crisis by this time, if she had not taken me to Paris. It would have been a pity if the catastrophe of the barricades had been all for nothing.' 

 Lord Ormersfield and Mary here broke out in amazement at themselves, for having hitherto been oblivious of the intelligence that had greeted 

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