The Eustace Diamonds

rke's

uld not receive visits from a lover in her house;-and then the governess might decide whether, in those circumstances, she would remain or go away; but Lady Fawn could have no right to tell her governess not to be in love. All this Lucy said to herself over and over again, and yet she knew that Lady Fawn had treated her well. The old woman had kissed her, and purred over her, and praised her, and had really loved her. As a matter of course, Lucy was not entitled to have a lover. Lucy knew that well enough. As she walked alone among the shrubs she made arguments in defence of Lady Fawn as against herself. And yet at every other minute she would blaze up into a grand wrath, and picture to herself a scene in which she would tell Lady Fawn boldly that as her

m her, as women's hearts are extracted, by efforts on the man's part; or had she simply chucked it away from her to the first comer? Then she remembered certain scenes at the deanery, words that had been spoken, looks that had been turned upon her, a pressure of the hand late at night, a little whisper, a ribbon that had been begged, a flower tha

ho was endeared to her by frank good humour and an unselfish disposition. In regard to men she had never asked herself the question whether this man was handsome or that man ugly. Of Frank Greystock she knew that his face was full of quick intellect; and of Lord Fawn she knew that he bore no outward index of mind. One man she not only loved, but could not help loving; the other man, as regarded that sort of sympathy which marriage should recognise, must always have been worlds asunder from her. She knew that men demand that women shall possess beauty, and she certainly had never thought of herself as beautiful; but it did not occur to her that on that account she was doomed to fail. She was too strong-hearted fo

e within the joints of his enemies' harness? Frank made his speech, and made it very well. It was just the case for a lawyer, admitting that kind of advocacy which it is a lawyer's business to practise. The Indian minister of the day, Lord Fawn's chief, had determined, after much anxious consideration, that it was his duty to resist the claim; and then, for resisting it, he was attacked. Had he yielded to the claim, the attack would have been as venomous, and very probably would have come from the same quarter. No blame by such an assertion is cast upon the young Conservative aspirant for party honours. It is thus the war is waged. Frank Greystock took up the Sawab's case, and would have drawn mingled tears and indignation from his hearers, had not his hearers all known the condition

he came out into the grounds after dinner, where the oldest unmarried daughter, the present Miss Fawn, was walking with Lucy Morris. It was almost a summer evening;-so much so, that some of the party had been sitting on the garden benches, and four of the girls were still playing croquet on the lawn, though there was hardly light enough to see the balls. Miss Fawn had already told Lucy that her brother was very angry with Mr. Greystock.

id Augusta Fawn, "I do think

imed Lord Fawn. "I can't understand it myself. When I'

Everybody who knew the Fawns knew that Augusta Fawn was not clever, and

e the idea that the weak women-kind of his family should have

ow mamm

of it. He chose to attack me because there was an opportunity. There isn't a man in either House who cares for such things, personally, less than I do;"-had his lordship s

girls. It's nine o'clock." In that house Lady Fawn reigned supreme, and no one ever doubted, for a moment, as to obedience. The clicking of the balls ceased, and those who were

Mr. Greystock," said Augusta

was provoking," sai

k has so often been here, I don't

ncing her eyes at Lucy's face. "I believe everythin

he. "Gentleman-like conduct is the same everywhere. There are things that may be said and there are things which m

o quarrel with the m

ink that he has transgressed." This his lordship said with that haughty superiorit

s of the family, every one of whom did, in fact, know her liking for the man. And then it seemed to her that she could rush into the battle, giving a side blow at his lordship on behalf of his absent antagonist, but appearing to fight for the Sawab. There had been a time when

stock's speech, Miss M

of it, in

I had been called upon to say in the Ho

did not seem to be di

uld have abstained from attac

thing that we are accust

ill,-that he is being deprived of his own property,-that he is kept out of his rights,

if you discuss politics with Lord

e Under-Secretary generously. "There is a great deal to be said on both

e his friend t

I ask no one to agree with me on the question itself. I only

ever read in my life," said Lucy, wit

inions about speeches," said Lord Fawn, with severit

ant to read th

id Lord Fawn; and his tone and

Lord Fawn that Burke had been a House of Commons orator; but in her impatience, and from absence

ide. "My dear Lucy," said Lady Fawn, "you are showing your igno

re made in Parliament," s

nt,-that his speech to the electors of Bristol, for instance, and his opening

anything at a

g to help you, my d

sibly be. There wasn't a word in it that didn't seem to me to be just what it ought to be. I do think that they ar

eart was so truly concerned in the matter, that she could not refrain herself from resenting an attack on the man she loved. She had allowed herself to be carried into superlatives, and had almost been uncourteous to Lord Fawn. "My dear," said Lady Fawn, "we won't say anything more upon the subject." Lord Fawn took up a book. Lady Fawn busied herself in her knitting. Lydia assumed a look of unhappiness, as though so

was so particularly interested

since she was a chi

d no candle, and had made no pretence to do anything since she had left the room down-stairs. In the interval family prayers

e I am

s you unha

you didn't ask me. I suppose

ive you in a momen

t not his. Of course I had no right to talk about speech

ou aston

I know you let me do things which other governesses mayn't do;-and say things; but

orsel of hard iron, was softened at once. "My dear, you

Lady

ot marry you, even if, under other circumstances, he would wish to do so. You know how frank I am with you, giving you credit for honest, sound good sense. To me and to my girls, who know you as a lady, you are a

! It is no use, Lady Fawn. I do love him, and I don't mean to try to give it up!" Lady Fawn stood silent for a moment, and then suggested that it w