The Eustace Diamonds

uering H

at the House. But still she did not stir. And she contrived that Miss Macnulty should be absent the entire day. Miss Macnulty was even made to go to the play by herself in the evening. But her absence was of no service. Frank Greystock came not; and at eleven at night Lizzie swore to herself that should he ever come again, he should come in vain. Nevertheless, through the whole of Saturday she expected him with more or less of confidence, and on the Sunday morning she was still well-inclined towards him. It might be that he would come on that day. She could understand that a man with his hands so full of business, as were those of her cousin Frank, should find himself unable to keep an appointment. Nor would there be

hat there was little even of holy mirth at Fawn Court on that Sunday morning. The whole family, however, went to church, and immediately on their return Lord Fawn expressed his intention of returning to town. All the sisters felt that an injury had been done to them by Lucy. It was only on Sundays that their dinner-table was graced by the male member of the family, and no

reedom for herself when she desired it. "My dear," she would say, "the best friends in the world shouldn't always be together; should they? Wouldn't you like to go to the Horticultural?" Then Miss Macnulty would go to the Horticultural

e pleased. She leaned forward her face as she asked her questions, and threw back her loose lustrous lock of hair, with her long lithe fingers covered with diamonds,-the diamonds, these, which Sir Florian had really given her, or whi

said Lizzie, bringing the

r, I mean," s

way. But now she did not feel at all sure of Frank. Lord Fawn was at any rate a peer. She had heard that he was a poor peer,-but a peer, she thought, can't be altogether poor. And though he was a stupid owl,-she did not hesitate to acknowledge to herself that he was as stupid as an owl,-he had a position. He was one of the Government, and his wife would, no doubt, be able to go anywhere. It was becoming essential to her that she should marry. Even though her husband should give up the d

e there very ofte

intrude myself often on

rangements. "There would be no feeling of that kind, I am sure," he said. And then he was silent. How was he to deploy himself on the ground before him

ld, you know,

ives a great int

ys must be, the chief object of my existence." Then she felt that she had said too much. He was just the man who would be fool enough to believe her. "Not but what it is hard to do it. A moth

ed her, and was still thinking of his own strategy. "It's a c

m in his little bed, and press him in my arms, and think of all that money, I almost wish that his father had been a po

a poor man;-for

awn, and your talents and genius

operty was all

it in

, till Lord Melbourne gav

n Irish peer was a peer who had not sufficient money to live upon. Lord Fawn, h

m. Fawn Court, you know, belonged to my mother's father before my mother's m

dee

it to tumble down. It's in Tipperary;-no

Don't they murd

year, and out of that my m

zie. There was so long a pause made between each

er, the fortune is

have a salar

ut no one can tell ho

good that it should go on for e

e are a great many people who don't think so. Your cous

she threw into her tone, and into her countenance, a certain amount of cont

myself which I was bound, as a man of honour, to t

Lord

ing almost of dignity in his gesture and demeanour. "It may be that you are determined never to marry again. I can only say that if you will trust yourself to me,-yourself and your child,-I will do my duty truly by you both, and will make your happiness the chief object of my existence." When she ha

t?" said Lizzie, just venturing to tu

ill call again when

ome again on Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday? Let her tell him that and he would go. He doubtless reflected that Wednesday would suit him best, because there would be no House. But Lizzie was too magnan

secon

almost laid her head upon his breast. Of course he put his arm round her waist,-but it was first necessary that he

ederic!" sh

to my mother to

-dear Fr

ome to you at o

her energy. Then he kissed her again,-her forehead and her lips,-an

ot sound so well as that of Lady Eustace. But it