THE narrative returns to South Morden, and follows the eventswhich attended Isabel's marriage engagement.

To say that Miss Pink, inflated by the triumph, rose, morallyspeaking, from the earth and floated among the clouds, is toindicate faintly the effect produced on the ex-schoolmistresswhen her niece first informed her of what had happened at thefarm. Attacked on one side by her aunt, and on the other byHardyman, and feebly defended, at the best, by her own doubts andmisgivings, Isabel ended by surrendering at discretion. Likethousands of other women in a similar position, she was in thelast degree uncertain as to the state of her own heart. To whatextent she was insensibly influenced by Hardyman's commandingposition in believing herself to be sincerely attached to him, itwas beyond her power of self-examination to discover. He doublydazzled her by his birth and by his celebrity. Not in Englandonly, but throughout Europe, he was a recognized authority on hisown subject. How could she-- how could any woman--resist theinfluence of his steady mind, his firmness of purpose, his manlyresolution to owe everything to himself and nothing to his rank,set off as these attractive qualities were by the outward andpersonal advantages which exercise an ascendancy of their own?Isabel was fascinated, and yet Isabel was not at ease. In herlonely moments she was troubled by regretful thoughts of Moody,which perplexed and irritated her. She had always behavedhonestly to him; she had never encouraged him to hope that hislove for her had the faintest prospect of being returned. Yet,knowing, as she did, that her conduct was blameless so far, therewere nevertheless perverse sympathies in her which took his part.In the wakeful hours of the night there were whispering voices inher which said: "Think of Moody!" Had there been a growingkindness towards this good friend in her heart, of which sheherself was not aware? She tried to detect it--to weigh it forwhat it was really worth. But it lay too deep to be discoveredand estimated, if it did really exist--if it had any sounderorigin than her own morbid fancy. In the broad light of day, inthe little bustling duties of life, she forgot it again. Shecould think of what she ought to wear on the wedding day; shecould even try privately how her new signature, "IsabelHardyman," would look when she had the right to use it. On thewhole, it may be said that the time passed smoothly--with someoccasional checks and drawbacks, which were the more easilyendured seeing that they took their rise in Isabel's own conduct.Compliant as she was in general, there were two instances, amongothers, in which her resolution to take her own way was not to beovercome. She refused to write either to Moody or to Lady Lydiardinforming them of her engagement; and she steadily disapproved ofMiss Pink's policy of concealment, in the matter of the robberyat Lady Lydiard's house. Her aunt could only secure her as apassive accomplice by stating family considerations in thestrongest possible terms. "If the disgrace was confined to you,my dear, I might leave you to decide. But I am involved in it, asyour nearest relative; and, what is more, even the sacredmemories of your father and mother might feel the slur cast onthem." This exaggerated language--like all exaggerated language,a mischievous weapon in the arsenal of weakness andprejudice--had its effect on Isabel. Reluctantly and sadly, sheconsented to be silent.

Miss Pink wrote word of the engagement to Moody first; reservingto a later day the superior pleasure of informing Lady Lydiard ofthe very event which that audacious woman had declared to beimpossible. To her aunt's surprise, just as she was about toclose the envelope Isabel stepped forward, and inconsistentlyrequested leave to add a postscript to the very letter which shehad refused to write! Miss Pink was not even permitted to see thepostscript. Isabel secured the envelope the moment she laid downher pen, and retired to her room with a headache (which washeartache in disguise) for the rest of the day.

While the question of marriage was still in debate, an eventoccurred which exercised a serious influence on Hardyman's futureplans.

He received a letter from the Continent which claimed hisimmediate attention. One of the sovereigns of Europe had decidedon making some radical changes in the mounting and equipment of acavalry regiment; and he required the assistance of Hardyman inthat important part of the contemplated reform which wasconnected with the choice and purchase of horses. Setting his owninterests out of the question, Hardyman owed obligations to thekindness of his illustrious correspondent which made itimpossible for him to send an excuse. In a fortnight's time, atthe latest, it would be necessary for him to leave England; and amonth or more might elapse before it would be possible for him toreturn.

Under these circumstances, he proposed, in his own precipitateway, to hasten the date of the marriage. The necessary legaldelay would permit the ceremony to be performed on that dayfortnight. Isabel might then accompany him on his journey, andspend a brilliant honeymoon at the foreign Court. She at oncerefused, not only to accept his proposal, but even to take itinto consideration. While Miss Pink dwelt eloquently on theshortness of the notice, Miss Pink's niece based her resolutionon far more important grounds. Hardyman had not yet announced thecontemplated marriage to his parents and friends; and Isabel wasdetermined not to become his wife until she could be firstassured of a courteous and tolerant reception by the family--ifshe could hope for no warmer welcome at their hands.

Hardyman was not a man who yielded easily, even in trifles. Inthe present case, his dearest interests were concerned ininducing Isabel to reconsider her decision. He was still vainlytrying to shake her resolution, when the afternoon post brought aletter for Miss Pink which introduced a new element ofdisturbance into the discussion. The letter was nothing less thanLady Lydiard's reply to the written announcement of Isabel'sengagement, despatched on the previous day by Miss Pink.

Her Ladyship's answer was a surprisingly short one. It onlycontained these lines:

"Lady Lydiard begs to acknowledge the receipt of Miss Pink'sletter requesting that she will say nothing to Mr. Hardyman ofthe loss of a bank-note in her house, and, assigning as a reasonthat Miss Isabel Miller is engaged to be married to Mr. Hardyman,and might be prejudiced in his estimation if the facts were madeknown. Miss Pink may make her mind easy. Lady Lydiard had not theslightest intention of taking Mr. Hardyman into her confidence onthe subject of her domestic affairs. With regard to the proposedmarriage, Lady Lydiard casts no doubt on Miss Pink's perfectsincerity and good faith; but, at the same time, she positivelydeclines to believe that Mr. Hardyman means to make Miss IsabelMiller his wife. Lady L. will yield to the evidence of aproperly-attested certificate--and to nothing else."

A folded piece of paper, directed to Isabel, dropped out of thischaracteristic letter as Miss Pink turned from the first page tothe second. Lady Lydiard addressed her adopted daughter in thesewords:

"I was on the point of leaving home to visit you again, when Ireceived your aunt's letter. My poor deluded child, no words cantell how distressed I am about you. You are already sacrificed tothe folly of the most foolish woman living. For God's sake, takecare you do not fall a victim next to the designs of a profligateman. Come to me instantly, Isabel, and I promise to take care ofyou."

Fortified by these letters, and aided by Miss Pink's indignation,Hardyman pressed his proposal on Isabel with renewed resolution.She made no attempt to combat his arguments--she only held firmlyto her decision. Without some encouragement from Hardyman'sfather and mother she still steadily refused to become his wife.Irritated already by Lady Lydiard's letters, he lost theself-command which so eminently distinguished him in the ordinaryaffairs of life, and showed the domineering and despotic temperwhich was an inbred part of his disposition. Isabel's high spiritat once resented the harsh terms in which he spoke to her. In theplainest words, she released him from his engagement, and,without waiting for his excuses, quitted the room.

Left together, Hardyman and Miss Pink devised an arrangementwhich paid due respect to Isabel's scruples, and at the same timemet Lady Lydiard's insulting assertion of disbelief in Hardyman'shonor, by a formal and public announcement of the marriage.

It was proposed to give a garden party at the farm in a week'stime for the express purpose of introducing Isabel to Hardyman'sfamily and friends in the character of his betrothed wife. If hisfather and mother accepted the invitation, Isabel's onlyobjection to hastening the union would fall to the ground.Hardyman might, in that case, plead with his Imperialcorrespondent for a delay in his departure of a few days more;and th e marriage might still take place before he left England.Isabel, at Miss Pink's intercession, was induced to accept herlover's excuses, and, in the event of her favorable reception byHardyman's parents at the farm, to give her consent (not verywillingly even yet) to hastening the ceremony which was to makeher Hardyman's wife.

On the next morning the whole of the invitations were sent out,excepting the invitation to Hardyman's father and mother. Withoutmentioning it to Isabel, Hardyman decided on personally appealingto his mother before he ventured on taking the head of the familyinto his confidence.

The result of the interview was partially successful--and nomore. Lord Rotherfield declined to see his youngest son; and hehad engagements which would, under any circumstances, prevent hisbeing present at the garden party. But at the express request ofLady Rotherfield, he was willing to make certain concessions.

"I have always regarded Alfred as a barely sane person," said hisLordship, "since he turned his back on his prospects to become ahorse dealer. If we decline altogether to sanction this newact--I won't say, of insanity, I will say, of absurdity--on hispart, it is impossible to predict to what discreditableextremities he may not proceed. We must temporise with Alfred. Inthe meantime I shall endeavor to obtain some informationrespecting this young person--named Miller, I think you said, andnow resident at South Morden. If I am satisfied that she is awoman of reputable character, possessing an average education andpresentable manners, we may as well let Alfred take his own way.He is out of the pale of Society, as it is; and Miss Miller hasno father and mother to complicate matters, which is distinctly amerit on her part and, in short, if the marriage is notabsolutely disgraceful, the wisest way (as we have no power toprevent it) will be to submit. You will say nothing to Alfredabout what I propose to do. I tell you plainly I don't trust him.You will simply inform him from me that I want time to consider,and that, unless he hears to the contrary in the interval, he mayexpect to have the sanction of your presence at his breakfast, orluncheon, or whatever it is. I must go to town in a day or two,and I shall ascertain what Alfred's friends know about this lastof his many follies, if I meet any of them at the club."

Returning to South Morden in no serene frame of mind, Hardymanfound Isabel in a state of depression which perplexed and alarmedhim.

The news that his mother might be expected to be present at thegarden party failed entirely to raise her spirits. The onlyexplanation she gave of the change in her was, that the dullheavy weather of the last few days made her feel a little languidand nervous. Naturally dissatisfied with this reply to hisinquiries, Hardyman asked for Miss Pink. He was informed thatMiss Pink could not see him. She was constitutionally subject toasthma, and, having warnings of the return of the malady, she was(by the doctor's advice) keeping her room. Hardyman returned tothe farm in a temper which was felt by everybody in hisemployment, from the trainer to the stable-boys.

While the apology made for Miss Pink stated no more than theplain truth, it must be confessed that Hardyman was right indeclining to be satisfied with Isabel's excuse for the melancholythat oppressed her. She had that morning received Moody's answerto the lines which she had addressed to him at the end of heraunt's letter; and she had not yet recovered from the effectwhich it had produced on her spirits.

"It is impossible for me to say honestly that I am not distressed(Moody wrote) by the news of your marriage engagement. The blowhas fallen very heavily on me. When I look at the future now, Isee only a dreary blank. This is not your fault--you are in noway to blame. I remember the time when I should have been tooangry to own this--when I might have said or done things which Ishould have bitterly repented afterwards. That time is past. Mytemper has been softened, since I have befriended you in yourtroubles. That good at least has come out of my foolish hopes,and perhaps out of the true sympathy which I have felt for you. Ican honestly ask you to accept my heart's dearest wishes for yourhappiness--and I can keep the rest to myself.

"Let me say a word now relating to the efforts that I have madeto help you, since that sad day when you left Lady Lydiard'shouse.

"I had hoped (for reasons which it is needless to mention here)to interest Mr. Hardyman himself in aiding our inquiry. But youraunt's wishes, as expressed in her letter to me, close my lips. Iwill only beg you, at some convenient time, to let me mention thelast discoveries that we have made; leaving it to yourdiscretion, when Mr. Hardyman has become your husband, to ask himthe questions which, under other circumstances, I should have putto him myself.

"It is, of course, possible that the view I take of Mr.Hardyman's capacity to help us may be a mistaken one. In thiscase, if you still wish the investigation to be privately carriedon, I entreat you to let me continue to direct it, as thegreatest favor you can confer on your devoted old friend.

"You need be under no apprehension about the expense to which youare likely to put me. I have unexpectedly inherited what is to mea handsome fortune.

"The same post which brought your aunt's letter brought a linefrom a lawyer asking me to see him on the subject of my latefather's affairs. I waited a day or two before I could summonheart enough to see him, or to see anybody; and then I went tohis office. You have heard that my father's bank stopped payment,at a time of commercial panic. His failure was mainlyattributable to the treachery of a friend to whom he had lent alarge sum of money, and who paid him the yearly interest, withoutacknowledging that every farthing of it had been lost inunsuccessful speculations. The son of this man has prospered inbusiness, and he has honorably devoted a part of his wealth tothe payment of his father's creditors. Half the sum due to _my_father has thus passed into my hands as his next of kin; and theother half is to follow in course of time. If my hopes had beenfulfilled, how gladly I should have shared my prosperity withyou! As it is, I have far more than enough for my wants as alonely man, and plenty left to spend in your service.

"God bless and prosper you, my dear. I shall ask you to accept alittle present from me, among the other offerings that are madeto you before the wedding day.-- R.M."

The studiously considerate and delicate tone in which these lineswere written had an effect on Isabel which was exactly theopposite of the effect intended by the writer. She burst into apassionate fit of tears; and in the safe solitude of her ownroom, the despairing words escaped her, "I wish I had died beforeI met with Alfred Hardyman!"

As the days wore on, disappointments and difficulties seemed by akind of fatality to beset the contemplated announcement of themarriage.

Miss Pink's asthma, developed by the unfavorable weather, set thedoctor's art at defiance, and threatened to keep that unfortunatelady a prisoner in her room on the day of the party. Hardyman'sinvitations were in some cases refused; and in others accepted byhusbands with excuses for the absence of their wives. His elderbrother made an apology for himself as well as for his wife.Felix Sweetsir wrote, "With pleasure, dear Alfred, if my healthpermits me to leave the house." Lady Lydiard, invited at MissPink's special request, sent no reply. The one encouragingcircumstance was the silence of Lady Rotherfield. So long as herson received no intimation to the contrary, it was a sign thatLord Rotherfield permitted his wife to sanction the marriage byher presence.

Hardyman wrote to his Imperial correspondent, engaging to leaveEngland on the earliest possible day, and asking to be pardonedif he failed to express himself more definitely, in considerationof domestic affairs, which it was necessary to settle before hestarted for the Continent. I f there should not be time enough towrite again, he promised to send a telegraphic announcement ofhis departure. Long afterwards, Hardyman remembered themisgivings that had troubled him when he wrote that letter. Inthe rough draught of it, he had mentioned, as his excuse for notbeing yet certain of his own movements, that he expected to beimmediately married. In the fair copy, the vague foreboding ofsome accident to come was so painfully present to his mind, thathe struck out the words which referred to his marriage, andsubstituted the designedly indefinite phrase, "domestic affairs."