PrefacePartI——BeforeDinnerTheFirstCountessofWessexBarbaraoftheHouseofGrebeTheMarchionessofStonehengeLadyMottisfontPartII——AfterDinnerTheLadyIcenwaySquirePetrick\'sLadyAnna，LadyBaxbyTheLadyPenelopeTheDuchessOfHamptonshireTheHonourableLauraPREFACE
Thepedigreesofourcountyfamilies，arrangedindiagramsonthepagesofcountyhistories，mostlyappearatfirstsighttobeasbarrenofanytouchofnatureasatableoflogarithms。Butgivenaclue——thefaintesttraditionofwhatwentonbehindthescenes，andthisdrynessasofdustmaybetransformedintoapalpitatingdrama。
More，thecarefulcomparisonofdatesalone——thatofbirthwithmarriage，ofmarriagewithdeath，ofonemarriage，birth，ordeathwithakindredmarriage，birth，ordeath——willofteneffectthesametransformation，andanybodypractisedinraisingimagesfromsuchgenealogiesfindshimselfunconsciouslyfillingintotheframeworkthemotives，passions，andpersonalqualitieswhichwouldappeartobethesingleexplanationpossibleofsomeextraordinaryconjunctionintimes，events，andpersonagesthatoccasionallymarksthesereticentfamilyrecords。
Outofsuchpedigreesandsupplementarymaterialmostofthefollowingstorieshavearisenandtakenshape。
Iwouldmakethisprefaceanopportunityofexpressingmysenseofthecourtesyandkindnessofseveralbright-eyedNobleDamesyetintheflesh，who，sincethefirstpublicationofthesetalesinperiodicals，sixorsevenyearsago，havegivenmeinterestingcommentsandconjecturesonsuchofthenarrativesastheyhaverecognizedtobeconnectedwiththeirownfamilies，residences，ortraditions；inwhichtheyhaveshownatrulyphilosophicabsenceofprejudiceintheirregardofthoseincidentswhoserelationhastendedmoredistinctlytodramatizethantoeulogizetheirancestors。Theoutlinestheyhavealsogivenofothersingulareventsintheirfamilyhistoriesforuseinasecond\"GroupofNobleDames，\"will，Ifear，neverreachtheprinting-pressthroughme；butIshallstorethemupinmemoryofmyinformants\'goodnature。
T。H。
June1896。
DAMETHEFIRST——THEFIRSTCOUNTESSOFWESSEX
BytheLocalHistorianKing\'s-HintockCourt(saidthenarrator，turningoverhismemorandaforreference)——King\'s-HintockCourtis，asweknow，oneofthemostimposingofthemansionsthatoverlookourbeautifulBlackmoororBlakemoreVale。OntheparticularoccasionofwhichIhavetospeakthisbuildingstood，asithadoftenstoodbefore，intheperfectsilenceofacalmclearnight，lightedonlybythecoldshineofthestars。Theseasonwaswinter，indayslongago，thelastcenturyhavingrunbutlittlemorethanathirdofitslength。North，south，andwest，notacasementwasunfastened，notacurtainundrawn；eastward，onewindowontheupperfloorwasopen，andagirloftwelveorthirteenwasleaningoverthesill。Thatshehadnottakenupthepositionforpurposesofobservationwasapparentataglance，forshekepthereyescoveredwithherhands。
Theroomoccupiedbythegirlwasaninneroneofasuite，tobereachedonlybypassingthroughalargebedchamberadjoining。Fromthisapartmentvoicesinaltercationwereaudible，everythingelseinthebuildingbeingsostill。Itwastoavoidlisteningtothesevoicesthatthegirlhadleftherlittlecot，thrownacloakroundherheadandshoulders，andstretchedintothenightair。
Butshecouldnotescapetheconversation，tryasshewould。Thewordsreachedherinalltheirpainfulness，onesentenceinmasculinetones，thoseofherfather，beingrepeatedmanytimes。
\'Itell\'eethereshallbenosuchbetrothal!Itell\'eetheresha\'n\'t!Achildlikeher!\'
Sheknewthesubjectofdisputetobeherself。Acoolfemininevoice，hermother\'s，replied:
\'Havedonewithyou，andbewise。Heiswillingtowaitagoodfiveorsixyearsbeforethemarriagetakesplace，andthere\'snotamaninthecountytocomparewithhim。\'
\'Itshallnotbe!Heisoverthirty。Itiswickedness。\'
\'Heisjustthirty，andthebestandfinestmanalive——aperfectmatchforher。\'
\'Heispoor!\'
\'ButhisfatherandelderbrothersaremademuchofatCourt——nonesoconstantlyatthepalaceasthey；andwithherfortune，whoknows?Hemaybeabletogetabarony。\'
\'Ibelieveyouareinlovewithenyourself!\'
\'Howcanyouinsultmeso，Thomas!Andisitnotmonstrousforyoutotalkofmywickednesswhenyouhavealikeschemeinyourownhead?Youknowyouhave。Somebumpkinofyourownchoosing——somepettygentlemanwholivesdownatthatoutlandishplaceofyours，Falls-Park——oneofyourpot-companions\'sons——\'
Therewasanoutburstofimprecationonthepartofherhusbandinlieuoffurtherargument。Assoonashecouldutteraconnectedsentencehesaid:\'Youcrowandyoudomineer，mistress，becauseyouareheiress-generalhere。Youareinyourownhouse；youareonyourownland。Butletmetell\'eethatifIdidcomeheretoyouinsteadoftakingyoutome，itwasdoneatthedictatesofconveniencemerely。H-!I\'mnobeggar!Ha\'n\'tIaplaceofmyown?Ha\'n\'tIanavenueaslongasthine?Ha\'n\'tIbeechesthatwillmorethanmatchthyoaks?Ishouldhavelivedinmyownquiethouseandland，contented，ifyouhadnotcalledmeoffwithyourairsandgraces。Faith，I\'llgobackthere；I\'llnotstaywiththeelonger!IfithadnotbeenforourBettyIshouldhavegonelongago!\'
Afterthistherewerenomorewords；butpresently，hearingthesoundofadooropeningandshuttingbelow，thegirlagainlookedfromthewindow。Footstepscrunchedonthegravel-walk，andashapeinadrabgreatcoat，easilydistinguishableasherfather，withdrewfromthehouse。Hemovedtotheleft，andshewatchedhimdiminishdownthelongeastfronttillhehadturnedthecornerandvanished。
Hemusthavegoneroundtothestables。
Sheclosedthewindowandshrankintobed，whereshecriedherselftosleep。Thischild，theironlyone，Betty，belovedambitiouslybyhermother，andwithuncalculatingpassionatenessbyherfather，wasfrequentlymadewretchedbysuchepisodesasthis；thoughshewastooyoungtocareverydeeply，forherownsake，whetherhermotherbetrothedhertothegentlemandiscussedornot。
TheSquirehadoftengoneoutofthehouseinthismanner，declaringthathewouldneverreturn，buthehadalwaysreappearedinthemorning。Thepresentoccasion，however，wasdifferentintheissue:
nextdayshewastoldthatherfatherhadriddentohisestateatFalls-Parkearlyinthemorningonbusinesswithhisagent，andmightnotcomebackforsomedays。
Falls-ParkwasovertwentymilesfromKing\'s-HintockCourt，andwasaltogetheramoremodestcentre-piecetoamoremodestpossessionthanthelatter。ButasSquireDornellcameinviewofitthatFebruarymorning，hethoughtthathehadbeenafoolevertoleaveit，thoughitwasforthesakeofthegreatestheiressinWessex。
Itsclassicfront，oftheperiodofthesecondCharles，derivedfromitsregularfeaturesadignitywhichthegreat，battlemented，heterogeneousmansionofhiswifecouldnoteclipse。Altogetherhewassickatheart，andthegloomwhichthedensely-timberedparkthrewoverthescenedidnottendtoremovethedepressionofthisrubicundmanofeight-and-forty，whosatsoheavilyuponhisgelding。Thechild，hisdarlingBetty:therelaytherootofhistrouble。Hewasunhappywhennearhiswife，hewasunhappywhenawayfromhislittlegirl；andfromthisdilemmatherewasnopracticableescape。Asaconsequenceheindulgedratherfreelyinthepleasuresofthetable，becamewhatwascalledathreebottleman，and，inhiswife\'sestimation，lessandlesspresentabletoherpolitefriendsfromtown。
Hewasreceivedbythetwoorthreeoldservantswhowereinchargeofthelonelyplace，whereafewroomsonlywerekepthabitableforhisuseorthatofhisfriendswhenhunting；andduringthemorninghewasmademorecomfortablebythearrivalofhisfaithfulservantTupcombefromKing\'s-Hintock。Butafteradayortwospenthereinsolitudehebegantofeelthathehadmadeamistakeincoming。ByleavingKing\'s-Hintockinhisangerhehadthrownawayhisbestopportunityofcounteractinghiswife\'spreposterousnotionofpromisinghispoorlittleBetty\'shandtoamanshehadhardlyseen。
Toprotectherfromsucharepugnantbargainheshouldhaveremainedonthespot。Hefeltitalmostasamisfortunethatthechildwouldinheritsomuchwealth。Shewouldbeamarkforalltheadventurersinthekingdom。HadshebeenonlytheheiresstohisownunassuminglittleplaceatFalls，howmuchbetterwouldhavebeenherchancesofhappiness!
Hiswifehaddivinedtrulywhensheinsinuatedthathehimselfhadaloverinviewforthispetchild。Thesonofadeardeceasedfriendofhis，wholivednottwomilesfromwheretheSquirenowwas，aladacoupleofyearshisdaughter\'ssenior，seemedinherfather\'sopiniontheonepersonintheworldlikelytomakeherhappy。Butastobreathingsuchaschemetoeitheroftheyoungpeoplewiththeindecenthastethathiswifehadshown，hewouldnotdreamofit；
yearshencewouldbesoonenoughforthat。Theyhadalreadyseeneachother，andtheSquirefanciedthathenoticedatendernessontheyouth\'spartwhichpromisedwell。Hewasstronglytemptedtoprofitbyhiswife\'sexample，andforestallhermatch-makingbythrowingthetwoyoungpeopletogetherthereatFalls。Thegirl，thoughmarriageableintheviewsofthosedays，wastooyoungtobeinlove，buttheladwasfifteen，andalreadyfeltaninterestinher。
StillbetterthankeepingwatchoverheratKing\'sHintock，whereshewasnecessarilymuchunderhermother\'sinfluence，woulditbetogetthechildtostaywithhimatFallsforatime，underhisexclusivecontrol。Buthowaccomplishthiswithoutusingmainforce?Theonlypossiblechancewasthathiswifemight，forappearance\'sake，asshehaddonebefore，consenttoBettypayinghimaday\'svisit，whenhemightfindmeansofdetaininghertillReynard，thesuitorwhomhiswifefavoured，hadgoneabroad，whichhewasexpectedtodothefollowingweek。SquireDornelldeterminedtoreturntoKing\'s-Hintockandattempttheenterprise。Ifhewererefused，itwasalmostinhimtopickupBettybodilyandcarryheroff。
Thejourneyback，vagueandQuixoticaswerehisintentions，wasperformedwithafarlighterheartthanhissettingforth。HewouldseeBetty，andtalktoher，comewhatmightofhisplan。
SoherodealongthedeadlevelwhichstretchesbetweenthehillsskirtingFalls-ParkandthoseboundingthetownofIvell，trottedthroughthatborough，andoutbytheKing\'s-Hintockhighway，till，passingthevillagesheenteredthemile-longdrivethroughtheparktotheCourt。Thedrivebeingopen，withoutanavenue，theSquirecoulddiscernthenorthfrontanddooroftheCourtalongwayoff，andwashimselfvisiblefromthewindowsonthatside；forwhichreasonhehopedthatBettymightperceivehimcoming，asshesometimesdidonhisreturnfromanouting，andruntothedoororwaveherhandkerchief。
Buttherewasnosign。Heinquiredforhiswifeassoonashesetfoottoearth。
\'Mistressisaway。ShewascalledtoLondon，sir。\'
\'AndMistressBetty?\'saidtheSquireblankly。
\'Gonelikewise，sir，foralittlechange。Mistresshasleftaletterforyou。\'
Thenoteexplainednothing，merelystatingthatshehadpostedtoLondononherownaffairs，andhadtakenthechildtogiveheraholiday。Onthefly-leafweresomewordsfromBettyherselftothesameeffect，evidentlywritteninastateofhighjubilationattheideaofherjaunt。SquireDornellmurmuredafewexpletives，andsubmittedtohisdisappointment。Howlonghiswifemeanttostayintownshedidnotsay；butoninvestigationhefoundthatthecarriagehadbeenpackedwithsufficientluggageforasojournoftwoorthreeweeks。
King\'s-HintockCourtwasinconsequenceasgloomyasFalls-Parkhadbeen。Hehadlostallzestforhuntingoflate，andhadhardlyattendedameetthatseason。Dornellreadandre-readBetty\'sscrawl，andhuntedupsomeothersuchnotesofherstolookover，thisseemingtobetheonlypleasuretherewasleftforhim。ThattheywerereallyinLondonhelearntinafewdaysbyanotherletterfromMrs。Dornell，inwhichsheexplainedthattheyhopedtobehomeinaboutaweek，andthatshehadhadnoideahewascomingbacktoKing\'s-Hintocksosoon，orshewouldnothavegoneawaywithouttellinghim。
SquireDornellwonderedif，ingoingorreturning，ithadbeenherplantocallattheReynards\'placenearMelchester，throughwhichcitytheirjourneylay。Itwaspossiblethatshemightdothisinfurtheranceofherproject，andthesensethathisownmightbecomethelosinggamewasharassing。
Hedidnotknowhowtodisposeofhimself，tillitoccurredtohimthat，togetridofhisintolerableheaviness，hewouldinvitesomefriendstodinneranddrownhiscaresingrogandwine。Nosoonerwasthecarousedecideduponthanheputitinhand；thoseinvitedbeingmostlyneighbouringlandholders，allsmallermenthanhimself，membersofthehunt；alsothedoctorfromEvershead，andthelike——
someofthemrollickingbladeswhosepresencehiswifewouldnothavecountenancedhadshebeenathome。\'Whenthecat\'saway——!\'
saidtheSquire。
Theyarrived，andtherewereindicationsintheirmannerthattheymeanttomakeanightofit。BaxbyofShertonCastlewaslate，andtheywaitedaquarterofanhourforhim，hebeingoneoftheliveliestofDornell\'sfriends；withoutwhosepresencenosuchdinnerasthiswouldbeconsideredcomplete，and，itmaybeadded，withwhosepresencenodinnerwhichincludedbothsexescouldbeconductedwithstrictpropriety。HehadjustreturnedfromLondon，andtheSquirewasanxioustotalktohim——fornodefinitereason；
buthehadlatelybreathedtheatmosphereinwhichBettywas。
AtlengththeyheardBaxbydrivinguptothedoor，whereuponthehostandtherestofhisguestscrossedovertothedining-room。InamomentBaxbycamehastilyinattheirheels，apologizingforhislateness。
\'Ionlycamebacklastnight，youknow，\'hesaid；\'andthetrutho\'tis，IhadasmuchasIcouldcarry。\'HeturnedtotheSquire。
\'Well，Dornell——socunningReynardhasstolenyourlittleewelamb?
Ha，ha!\'
\'What?\'saidSquireDornellvacantly，acrossthedining-table，roundwhichtheywereallstanding，thecoldMarchsunlightstreaminginuponhisfull-cleanshavenface。
\'Surelyth\'stknowwhatallthetownknows?——you\'vehadaletterbythistime?——thatStephenReynardhasmarriedyourBetty?Yes，asI\'malivingman。Itwasacarefully-arrangedthing:theypartedatonce，andarenottomeetforfiveorsixyears。But，Lord，youmustknow!\'
AthudonthefloorwastheonlyreplyoftheSquire。Theyquicklyturned。Hehadfallendownlikealogbehindthetable，andlaymotionlessontheoakboards。
Thoseathandhastilybentoverhim，andthewholegroupwereinconfusion。Theyfoundhimtobequiteunconscious，thoughpuffingandpantinglikeablacksmith\'sbellows。Hisfacewaslivid，hisveinsswollen，andbeadsofperspirationstooduponhisbrow。
\'What\'shappenedtohim?\'saidseveral。
\'Anapoplecticfit，\'saidthedoctorfromEvershead，gravely。
HewasonlycalledinattheCourtforsmallailments，asarule，andfelttheimportanceofthesituation。HeliftedtheSquire\'shead，loosenedhiscravatandclothing，andrangfortheservants，whotooktheSquireupstairs。
Therehelayasifinadruggedsleep。Thesurgeondrewabasin-
fullofbloodfromhim，butitwasnearlysixo\'clockbeforehecametohimself。Thedinnerwascompletelydisorganized，andsomehadgonehomelongago；buttwoorthreeremained。
\'Blessmysoul，\'Baxbykeptrepeating，\'Ididn\'tknowthingshadcometothispassbetweenDornellandhislady!Ithoughtthefeasthewasspreadingto-daywasinhonouroftheevent，thoughprivatelykeptforthepresent!Hislittlemaidmarriedwithouthisknowledge!\'
AssoonastheSquirerecoveredconsciousnesshegasped:\'\'Tisabduction!\'Tisacapitalfelony!Hecanbehung!WhereisBaxby?
Iamverywellnow。Whatitemshaveyeheard，Baxby?\'
ThebeareroftheuntowardnewswasextremelyunwillingtoagitateDornellfurther，andwouldsaylittlemoreatfirst。Butanhourafter，whentheSquirehadpartiallyrecoveredandwassittingup，Baxbytoldasmuchasheknew，themostimportantparticularbeingthatBetty\'smotherwaspresentatthemarriage，andshowedeverymarkofapproval。\'EverythingappearedtohavebeendonesoregularlythatI，ofcourse，thoughtyouknewallaboutit，\'hesaid。
\'Iknewnomorethantheundergrounddeadthatsuchastepwasinthewind!Achildnotyetthirteen!HowSuehathoutwittedme!
DidReynardgouptoLon\'onwith\'em，d\'yeknow?\'
\'Ican\'tsay。AllIknowisthatyourladyanddaughterwerewalkingalongthestreet，withthefootmanbehind\'em；thattheyenteredajeweller\'sshop，whereReynardwasstanding；andthatthere，inthepresenceo\'theshopkeeperandyourman，whowascalledinonpurpose，yourBettysaidtoReynard——sothestorygoes:
\'ponmysoulIdon\'tvouchforthetruthofit——shesaid，\"Willyoumarryme?\"or，\"Iwanttomarryyou:willyouhaveme——nowornever?\"shesaid。\'
\'Whatshesaidmeansnothing，\'murmuredtheSquire，withweteyes。
\'Hermotherputthewordsintohermouthtoavoidtheseriousconsequencesthatwouldattachtoanysuspicionofforce。Thewordsbenotthechild\'s:shedidn\'tdreamofmarriage——howshouldshe，poorlittlemaid!Goon。\'
\'Well，bethatasitwill，theywereallagreedapparently。Theyboughttheringonthespot，andthemarriagetookplaceatthenearestchurchwithinhalf-an-hour。\'
AdayortwolatertherecamealetterfromMrs。Dornelltoherhusband，writtenbeforesheknewofhisstroke。Sherelatedthecircumstancesofthemarriageinthegentlestmanner，andgavecogentreasonsandexcusesforconsentingtotheprematureunion，whichwasnowanaccomplishedfactindeed。Shehadnoidea，tillsuddenpressurewasputuponher，thatthecontractwasexpectedtobecarriedoutsosoon，butbeingtakenhalfunawares，shehadconsented，havinglearnedthatStephenReynard，nowtheirson-in-
law，wasbecomingagreatfavouriteatCourt，andthathewouldinalllikelihoodhaveatitlegrantedhimbeforelong。Noharmcouldcometotheirdeardaughterbythisearlymarriage-contract，seeingthatherlifewouldbecontinuedundertheirowneyes，exactlyasbefore，forsomeyears。Infine，shehadfeltthatnoothersuchfairopportunityforagoodmarriagewithashrewdcourtierandwisemanoftheworld，whowasatthesametimenotedforhisexcellentpersonalqualities，waswithintherangeofprobability，owingtotherusticatedlivestheyledatKing\'s-Hintock。HenceshehadyieldedtoStephen\'ssolicitation，andhopedherhusbandwouldforgiveher。Shewrote，inshort，likeawomanwho，havinghadherwayastothedeed，ispreparedtomakeanyconcessionastowordsandsubsequentbehaviour。
AllthisDornelltookatitstruevalue，orrather，perhaps，atlessthanitstruevalue。Ashislifedependeduponhisnotgettingintoapassion，hecontrolledhisperturbedemotionsaswellashewasable，goingaboutthehousesadlyandutterlyunlikehisformerself。Hetookeveryprecautiontopreventhiswifeknowingoftheincidentsofhissuddenillness，fromasenseofshameathavingaheartsotender；aridiculousquality，nodoubt，inhereyes，nowthatshehadbecomesoimbuedwithtownideas。Butrumoursofhisseizuresomehowreachedher，andshelethimknowthatshewasabouttoreturntonursehim。HethereuponpackedupandwentofftohisownplaceatFalls-Park。
Herehelivedthelifeofarecluseforsometime。Hewasstilltoounwelltoentertaincompany，ortoridetohoundsorelsewhither；
butmorethanthis，hisaversiontothefacesofstrangersandacquaintances，whoknewbythattimeofthetrickhiswifehadplayedhim，operatedtoholdhimaloof。
NothingcouldinfluencehimtocensureBettyforhershareintheexploit。Heneveroncebelievedthatshehadactedvoluntarily。
Anxioustoknowhowshewasgettingon，hedespatchedthetrustyservantTupcombetoEversheadvillage，closetoKing\'s-Hintock，timinghisjourneysothatheshouldreachtheplaceundercoverofdark。Theemissaryarrivedwithoutnotice，beingoutoflivery，andtookaseatinthechimney-corneroftheSow-and-Acorn。
Theconversationofthedroppers-inwasalwaysoftheninedays\'
wonder——therecentmarriage。ThesmokinglistenerlearntthatMrs。
DornellandthegirlhadreturnedtoKing\'s-Hintockforadayortwo，thatReynardhadsetoutfortheContinent，andthatBettyhadsincebeenpackedofftoschool。ShedidnotrealizeherpositionasReynard\'schild-wife——sothestorywent——andthoughsomewhatawe-
strickenatfirstbytheceremony，shehadsoonrecoveredherspiritsonfindingthatherfreedomwasinnowaytobeinterferedwith。
Afterthat，formalmessagesbegantopassbetweenDornellandhiswife，thelatterbeingnowaspersistentlyconciliatingasshewasformerlymasterful。Butherrustic，simple，blusteringhusbandstillheldpersonallyaloof。Herwishtobereconciled——towinhisforgivenessforherstratagem——moreover，agenuinetendernessanddesiretosoothehissorrow，whichwelledupinherattimes，broughtheratlasttohisdooratFalls-Parkoneday。
Theyhadnotmetsincethatnightofaltercation，beforeherdepartureforLondonandhissubsequentillness。Shewasshockedatthechangeinhim。Hisfacehadbecomeexpressionless，asblankasthatofapuppet，andwhattroubledherstillmorewasthatshefoundhimlivinginoneroom，andindulgingfreelyinstimulants，inabsolutedisobediencetothephysician\'sorder。Thefactwasobviousthathecouldnolongerbeallowedtolivethusuncouthly。
Soshesympathized，andbeggedhispardon，andcoaxed。Butthoughafterthisdatetherewasnolongersuchacompleteestrangementasbefore，theyonlyoccasionallysaweachother，DornellforthemostpartmakingFallshisheadquartersstill。
Threeorfouryearspassedthus。Thenshecameoneday，withmoreanimationinhermanner，andatoncemovedhimbythesimplestatementthatBetty\'sschoolinghadended；shehadreturned，andwasgrievedbecausehewasaway。Shehadsentamessagetohiminthesewords:\'AskfathertocomehometohisdearBetty。\'
\'Ah!Thensheisveryunhappy!\'saidSquireDornell。
Hiswifewassilent。
\'\'Tisthataccursedmarriage!\'continuedtheSquire。
Stillhiswifewouldnotdisputewithhim。\'Sheisoutsideinthecarriage，\'saidMrs。Dornellgently。
\'What——Betty?\'
\'Yes。\'
\'Whydidn\'tyoutellme?\'Dornellrushedout，andtherewasthegirlawaitinghisforgiveness，forshesupposedherself，nolessthanhermother，tobeunderhisdispleasure。
Yes，Bettyhadleftschool，andhadreturnedtoKing\'s-Hintock。Shewasnearlyseventeen，andhaddevelopedtoquiteayoungwoman。Shelookednotlessamemberofthehouseholdforherearlymarriage-
contract，whichsheseemed，indeed，tohavealmostforgotten。Itwaslikeadreamtoher；thatclearcoldMarchday，theLondonchurch，withitsgorgeouspews，andgreen-baizelinings，andthegreatorganinthewestgallery——sodifferentfromtheirownlittlechurchintheshrubberyofKing\'s-HintockCourt——themanofthirty，towhosefaceshehadlookedupwithsomuchawe，andwithasensethathewasratheruglyandformidable；themanwhom，thoughtheycorrespondedpolitely，shehadneverseensince；onetowhoseexistenceshewasnowsoindifferentthatifinformedofhisdeath，andthatshewouldneverseehimmore，shewouldmerelyhavereplied，\'Indeed!\'Betty\'spassionsasyetstillslept。
\'Hastheardfromthyhusbandlately?\'saidSquireDornell，whentheywereindoors，withanironicallaughoffondnesswhichdemandednoanswer。
Thegirlwinced，andhenoticedthathiswifelookedappealinglyathim。Astheconversationwenton，andthereweresignsthatDornellwouldexpresssentimentsthatmightdoharmtoapositionwhichtheycouldnotalter，Mrs。DornellsuggestedthatBettyshouldleavetheroomtillherfatherandherselfhadfinishedtheirprivateconversation；andthisBettyobedientlydid。
Dornellrenewedhisanimadversionsfreely。\'Didyouseehowthesoundofhisnamefrightenedher?\'hepresentlyadded。\'Ifyoudidn\'t，Idid。Zounds!whatafutureisinstoreforthatpoorlittleunfortunatewencho\'mine!Itell\'ee，Sue，\'twasnotamarriageatall，inmorality，andifIwereawomaninsuchaposition，Ishouldn\'tfeelitasone。Shemight，withoutasignofsin，loveamanofherchoiceaswellnowasifshewerechaineduptonootheratall。There，that\'smymind，andIcan\'thelpit。
Ah，Sue，mymanwasbest!He\'dha\'suitedher。\'
\'Idon\'tbelieveit，\'sherepliedincredulously。
\'Youshouldseehim；thenyouwould。He\'sgrowingupafinefellow，Icantell\'ee。\'
\'Hush!notsoloud!\'sheanswered，risingfromherseatandgoingtothedoorofthenextroom，whitherherdaughterhadbetakenherself。
ToMrs。Dornell\'salarm，theresatBettyinareverie，herroundeyesfixedonvacancy，musingsodeeplythatshedidnotperceivehermother\'sentrance。Shehadheardeveryword，andwasdigestingthenewknowledge。
HermotherfeltthatFalls-Parkwasdangerousgroundforayounggirlofthesusceptibleage，andinBetty\'speculiarposition，whileDornelltalkedandreasonedthus。ShecalledBettytoher，andtheytookleave。TheSquirewouldnotclearlypromisetoreturnandmakeKing\'s-HintockCourthispermanentabode；butBetty\'spresencethere，asatformertimes，wassufficienttomakehimagreetopaythemavisitsoon。
AllthewayhomeBettyremainedpreoccupiedandsilent。ItwastooplaintoheranxiousmotherthatSquireDornell\'sfreeviewshadbeenasortofawakeningtothegirl。
TheintervalbeforeDornellredeemedhispledgetocomeandseethemwasunexpectedlyshort。Hearrivedonemorningabouttwelveo\'clock，drivinghisownpairofblack-baysinthecurricle-phaetonwithyellowpanelsandredwheels，justashehadusedtodo，andhisfaithfuloldTupcombeonhorsebackbehind。AyoungmansatbesidetheSquireinthecarriage，andMrs。Dornell\'sconsternationcouldscarcelybeconcealedwhen，abruptlyenteringwithhiscompanion，theSquireannouncedhimashisfriendPhelipsonofElm-
Cranlynch。
DornellpassedontoBettyinthebackgroundandtenderlykissedher。\'Stingyourmother\'sconscience，mymaid!\'hewhispered。
\'StingherconsciencebypretendingyouarestruckwithPhelipson，andwouldha\'lovedhim，asyouroldfather\'schoice，muchmorethanhimshehasforcedupon\'ee。\'
Thesimple-souledspeakerfondlyimaginedthatitasentirelyinobediencetothisdirectionthatBetty\'seyesstoleinterestedglancesatthefrankandimpulsivePhelipsonthatdayatdinner，andhelaughedgrimlywithinhimselftoseehowthisjokeofhis，asheimaginedittobe，wasdisturbingthepeaceofmindoftheladyofthehouse。\'NowSueseeswhatamistakeshehasmade!\'saidhe。
Mrs。Dornellwasverilygreatlyalarmed，andassoonasshecouldspeakawordwithhimalonesheupbraidedhim。\'Yououghtnottohavebroughthimhere。OhThomas，howcouldyoubesothoughtless!
Lord，don\'tyousee，dear，thatwhatisdonecannotbeundone，andhowallthisfooleryjeopardizesherhappinesswithherhusband?
Untilyouinterfered，andspokeinherhearingaboutthisPhelipson，shewasaspatientandaswillingasalamb，andlookedforwardtoMr。Reynard\'sreturnwithrealpleasure。SincehervisittoFalls-
Parkshehasbeenmonstrousclose-mouthedandbusywithherownthoughts。Whatmischiefwillyoudo?Howwillitend?\'
\'Own，then，thatmymanwasbestsuitedtoher。Ionlybroughthimtoconvinceyou。\'
\'Yes，yes；Idoadmitit。Butoh!dotakehimbackagainatonce!
Don\'tkeephimhere!Ifearsheisevenattractedbyhimalready。\'
\'Nonsense，Sue。\'Tisonlyalittletricktotease\'ee!\'
Neverthelesshermotherlyeyewasnotsolikelytobedeceivedashis，andifBettywerereallyonlyplayingatbeinglove-struckthatday，sheplayedatitwiththeperfectionofaRosalind，andwouldhavedeceivedthebestprofessorsintoabeliefthatitwasnocounterfeit。TheSquire，havingobtainedhisvictory，wasquitereadytotakebackthetooattractiveyouth，andearlyintheafternoontheysetoutontheirreturnjourney。
AsilentfigurewhorodebehindthemwasasinterestedasDornellinthatday\'sexperiment。ItwasthestaunchTupcombe，who，withhiseyesontheSquire\'sandyoungPhelipson\'sbacks，thoughthowwellthelatterwouldhavesuitedBetty，andhowgreatlytheformerhadchangedfortheworseduringtheselasttwoorthreeyears。Hecursedhismistressasthecauseofthechange。
Afterthismemorablevisittoprovehispoint，thelivesoftheDornellcoupleflowedonquietlyenoughforthespaceofatwelvemonth，theSquireforthemostpartremainingatFalls，andBettypassingandrepassingbetweenthemnowandthen，onceortwicealarminghermotherbynotdrivinghomefromherfather\'shousetillmidnight。
ThereposeofKing\'s-Hintockwasbrokenbythearrivalofaspecialmessenger。SquireDornellhadhadanaccessofgoutsoviolentastobeserious。HewishedtoseeBettyagain:whyhadshenotcomeforsolong?
Mrs。DornellwasextremelyreluctanttotakeBettyinthatdirectiontoofrequently；butthegirlwassoanxioustogo，herinterestslatterlyseemingtobesoentirelyboundupinFalls-Parkanditsneighbourhood，thattherewasnothingtobedonebuttolethersetoutandaccompanyher。
SquireDornellhadbeenimpatientlyawaitingherarrival。Theyfoundhimveryillandirritable。Ithadbeenhishabittotakepowerfulmedicinestodriveawayhisenemy，andtheyhadfailedintheireffectonthisoccasion。
Thepresenceofhisdaughter，asusual，calmedhimmuch，evenwhile，asusualtoo，itsaddenedhim；forhecouldneverforgetthatshehaddisposedofherselfforlifeinoppositiontohiswishes，thoughshehadsecretlyassuredhimthatshewouldneverhaveconsentedhadshebeenasoldasshewasnow。
Asonaformeroccasion，hiswifewishedtospeaktohimaloneaboutthegirl\'sfuture，thetimenowdrawingnighatwhichReynardwasexpectedtocomeandclaimher。Hewouldhavedonesoalready，buthehadbeenputoffbytheearnestrequestoftheyoungwomanherself，whichaccordedwiththatofherparents，onthescoreofheryouth。Reynardhaddeferentiallysubmittedtotheirwishesinthisrespect，theunderstandingbetweenthemhavingbeenthathewouldnotvisitherbeforeshewaseighteen，exceptbythemutualconsentofallparties。Butthiscouldnotgoonmuchlonger，andtherewasnodoubt，fromthetenorofhislastletter，thathewouldsoontakepossessionofherwhetherorno。
TobeoutofthesoundofthisdelicatediscussionBettywasaccordinglysentdownstairs，andtheysoonsawherwalkingawayintotheshrubberies，lookingveryprettyinhersweepinggreengown，andflappingbroad-brimmedhatoverhungwithafeather。
Onreturningtothesubject，Mrs。Dornellfoundherhusband\'sreluctancetoreplyintheaffirmativetoReynard\'slettertobeasgreatasever。
\'Sheisthreemonthsshortofeighteen!\'heexclaimed。\'\'Tistoosoon。Iwon\'thearofit!IfIhavetokeephimoffswordinhand，heshallnothaveheryet。\'
\'But，mydearThomas，\'sheexpostulated，\'considerifanythingshouldhappentoyouortome，howmuchbetteritwouldbethatsheshouldbesettledinherhomewithhim!\'
\'Isayitistoosoon!\'heargued，theveinsofhisforeheadbeginningtoswell。\'Ifhegetsherthissideo\'CandlemasI\'llchallengeen——I\'lltakemyoathon\'t!I\'llbebacktoKing\'s-
Hintockintwoorthreedays，andI\'llnotlosesightofherdayornight!\'
Shefearedtoagitatehimfurther，andgaveway，assuringhim，inobediencetohisdemand，thatifReynardshouldwriteagainbeforehegotback，tofixatimeforjoiningBetty，shewouldputtheletterinherhusband\'shands，andheshoulddoashechose。Thiswasallthatrequireddiscussionprivately，andMrs。DornellwenttocallinBetty，hopingthatshehadnotheardherfather\'sloudtones。
Shehadcertainlynotdonesothistime。Mrs。DornellfollowedthepathalongwhichshehadseenBettywandering，butwentaconsiderabledistancewithoutperceivinganythingofher。TheSquire\'swifethenturnedroundtoproceedtotheothersideofthehousebyashortcutacrossthegrass，when，tohersurpriseandconsternation，shebeheldtheobjectofhersearchsittingonthehorizontalboughofacedar，besideherbeingayoungman，whosearmwasroundherwaist。Hemovedalittle，andsherecognizedhimasyoungPhelipson。
Alas，then，shewasright。Theso-calledcounterfeitlovewasreal。
WhatMrs。Dornellcalledherhusbandatthatmoment，forhisfollyinoriginallythrowingtheyoungpeopletogether，itisnotnecessarytomention。Shedecidedinamomentnottolettheloversknowthatshehadseenthem。Sheaccordinglyretreated，reachedthefrontofthehousebyanotherroute，andcalledatthetopofhervoicefromawindow，\'Betty!\'
Forthefirsttimesinceherstrategicmarriageofthechild，SusanDornelldoubtedthewisdomofthatstep。
Herhusbandhad，asitwere，beenassistedbydestinytomakehisobjection，originallytrivial，avalidone。Shesawtheoutlinesoftroubleinthefuture。WhyhadDornellinterfered?Whyhadheinsisteduponproducinghisman?This，then，accountedforBetty\'spleadingforpostponementwheneverthesubjectofherhusband\'sreturnwasbroached；thisaccountedforherattachmenttoFalls-
Park。Possiblythisverymeetingthatshehadwitnessedhadbeenarrangedbyletter。
Perhapsthegirl\'sthoughtswouldneverhavestrayedforamomentifherfatherhadnotfilledherheadwithideasofrepugnancetoherearlyunion，onthegroundthatshehadbeencoercedintoitbeforesheknewherownmind；andshemighthaverushedtomeetherhusbandwithopenarmsontheappointedday。
Bettyatlengthappearedinthedistanceinanswertothecall，andcameuppale，butlookinginnocentofhavingseenalivingsoul。
Mrs。Dornellgroanedinspiritatsuchduplicityinthechildofherbosom。Thiswasthesimplecreatureforwhosedevelopmentintowomanhoodtheyhadallbeensotenderlywaiting——aforwardminx，oldenoughnotonlytohavealover，buttoconcealhisexistenceasadroitlyasanywomanoftheworld!BitterlydidtheSquire\'sladyregretthatStephenReynardhadnotbeenallowedtocometoclaimheratthetimehefirstproposed。
ThetwosatbesideeachotheralmostinsilenceontheirjourneybacktoKing\'s-Hintock。SuchwordsaswerespokencamemainlyfromBetty，andtheirformalityindicatedhowmuchhermindandheartwereoccupiedwithotherthings。
Mrs。DornellwasfartooastuteamothertoopenlyattackBettyonthematter。Thatwouldbeonlyfanningflame。Theindispensablecourseseemedtohertobethatofkeepingthetreacherousgirlunderlockandkeytillherhusbandcametotakeheroffhermother\'shands。ThathewoulddisregardDornell\'sopposition，andcomesoon，washerdevoutwish。
Itseemed，therefore，afortunatecoincidencethatonherarrivalatKing\'s-HintockaletterfromReynardwasputintoMrs。Dornell\'shands。Itwasaddressedtobothherandherhusband，andcourteouslyinformedthemthatthewriterhadlandedatBristol，andproposedtocomeontoKing\'s-Hintockinafewdays，atlasttomeetandcarryoffhisdarlingBetty，ifsheandherparentssawnoobjection。
Bettyhadalsoreceivedaletterofthesametenor。Hermotherhadonlytolookatherfacetoseehowthegirlreceivedtheinformation。Shewasaspaleasasheet。
\'Youmustdoyourbesttowelcomehimthistime，mydearBetty，\'hermothersaidgently。
\'But——but——I——\'
\'Youareawomannow，\'addedhermotherseverely，\'andthesepostponementsmustcometoanend。\'
\'Butmyfather——oh，Iamsurehewillnotallowthis!Iamnotready。Ifhecouldonlywaitayearlonger——ifhecouldonlywaitafewmonthslonger!Oh，Iwish——Iwishmydearfatherwerehere!I
willsendtohiminstantly。\'Shebrokeoffabruptly，andfallinguponhermother\'sneck，burstintotears，saying，\'Omymother，havemercyuponme——Idonotlovethisman，myhusband!\'
