The Duke's Children

k L

in the girl. That the Duke could not eat him, indeed that nobody could eat him as long as he carried himself as an honest man and a gentleman, was to him an inward assurance on which he leaned much. And yet he was conscious, almost with a feeling of shame, that in Italy he had not spoken to the Duke about his daughter because he was afraid lest the Duke might eat him. In such an affair he should have been careful from the first to keep his own hands thoroughly clean. Had it not been his duty as a gentleman to communicate with the father, if not before he gained the girl's heart, at any rate as soo

told the story of her engagement to Mrs. Finn, and that Mrs. Finn had not as yet told it to the Duke. From this he was justified in regarding Mrs. Finn as the girl's friend. The request made was that he should at once do something which Mrs. Finn was to suggest. He could hardly have been so reques

t she had been so intimate with the Duchess, nor why the late Duke had left to her an enormous legacy, which as yet had never been claimed. There was supposed, too, to have been something especially romantic in her marriage with her present husband. It was believed also that she was very rich. The rumours of all these things together had made her a person of

ar, for keeping you waiting," s

was before

ter mine,-a few minu

r in curls, such as are now seldom seen with ladies. Perhaps the reduced light of the chamber had been regulated with som

come up from Ma

esterday. It is very good o

ent for me. I am afraid the

was? Few people knew how much he tru

told me that he

n Lord Silver

am living with him,

use?" she asked,

een very intimate. Of course the Duke knows that I a

sh it were otherwise, as I am sure he would better b

introduce the matter which both knew was to be the subject of their conversation. But Tregear would not

ntimate with th

hem. I had been at Eton and at Christ Church with S

t. Have you and the Du

never bee

ose not

d to do with himself. When I dined with them, I saw him, but I did not often do that

ry used

d Gerald. And the Duchess used to driv

e intimate with t

timate with the

his she said in her sweetest possible

with Lady Mar

you endure and forgive all this cross-question

ot a perfect s

footing with her is. When the Duchess returned, and when I found her to be so ill as she

unders

ughter, how the boys were astonished by the feeling of their loss. After a few days they went away. It was, I think, their father's wish that they should go. And I too was going away,

understand tha

not. In that way we were thrown together in the closest intercourse,

natural, I

as incumbent on her to tell someone. There was, however, one other perso

t pe

fat

hat it is I who o

ery imperfectly,-I think it is natural that a girl should at once tell

so, Mrs

enerally the mother w

did

at had better be done. It is out of the question that Lady Mary should be allowed to consider herself to be engaged, and that the father should be kept in ig

e told you in

that be a betrayal. The Duke must know it. It will be infinitely better that he s

te see why,"

,-whom I supp

nly I l

I wonder you do not see it, Mr. T

sister as i

ould you like to think of a sister as being engaged

it. The present condition of th

t that must be br

m not such a fool as to suppose that I can m

once, Mr.

you are rather dictat

your success that the Duke should hear this from you than from me, and as I feel that I am bound by my du

o have a constra

in regard to ladies. But the constraint of which you speak is ne

e death of the man's wife should not be held by him to justify delay, he became angry, and for awhile insisted that he must be allowed to follow his own judgment. But he gave her a promise that he would see the Duke before a week was over. Nevertheless he left the house in dudgeon, having told Mrs. Finn more than

within the period of a week. Who was she that she should exact terms from him after this fashion, and prescribe days and hours? And now, because this stra

an to any one, and not a word passed between him and Lord Silverbridge about Lady Mary during the first two or three days. Bu

edia

. He says that he thinks he

ourney must have some reference to Lady Mary and

ese vacancies

d that bri

o down at Silverbridge. I am very sorry to annoy him, and all that kind of thing. But what the deuce is a fellow to do? If a man has got political convictions of his own, of course, he must stic

the question, my boy." At this particular moment T

ave me give up

rliament is a

er side I take. I thought you were s

are, as it were, boun

nowadays. It used to be a great doctrine with you, that nothi

owever, as your father is coming to Lo

say that you were

ntry den; but now the lion will find me in h

ision, that, as the Duke of Omnium intended to be in town one day next week, he wou