Had Lady Gelston been conscious that all her acquaintances were thoroughly aware of the projects which she cherished in reference to Gertrude Baldwin, she would not have been in the least annoyed. The matter presented itself to her mind in a practical common-sense aspect, much as his designs with regard to the "middle-aged lady" presented themselves to the mind of Mr. Peter Magnus. "Husband on one side, wife on the other;" fortune on one side, rank on the other; mutual accommodation, excellent arrangement for all parties--a little condescending on the part of the Honourable Matthew perhaps, but then the girl was really very rich, and that was all about it. Any one ordinarily clear-sighted, and with any knowledge of the world at all, must recognise the advantages to all parties. If the Carterets and Miss Baldwin were insensible to them--well, it would be provoking, but there were other heiresses, and certain conditions of heiress-ship were tolerably frequent, in which an Honourable Matthew would be a greater prize than to Miss Meriton Baldwin of the Deane. When Mr. Dort made his appearance on the Deane croquet-ground, there was not an individual present who did not know that he was there with a definite purpose, and in obedience to the orders of Lady Gelston, and they all watched his proceedings with curiosity. The fates were not propitious to the Honourable Matthew, who had been preparing, on his way, certain pretty speeches, which he flattered himself would be effective, and would help towards "getting it over," which was his periphrastic manner of alluding, in his self-communings, to the proposal appointed to be made to Miss Baldwin. Gertrude was not present, and everybody was intent upon croquet. "Where is your sister?" he asked Eleanor, after they had exchanged good-morrows, and agreed that the ball of the previous night had been a successful festivity. The droll directness of the question was too much for Nelly; she laughed outright. "I really cannot tell you," she replied; "she ought to have been here long ago; but no doubt she will come now." "I hope so," said Mr. Dort with fervent seriousness. "I should think she would soon come." And then he retired modestly to a garden-seat and softly repeated the phrases, which he began to find it desperately difficult to retain in his memory. Robert Meredith had adhered with some tenacity to the croquet-party, and had been a witness to this little scene. The amusement, just a little dashed with pique, which Eleanor displayed did not escape him. "He is an original, certainly," said Meredith, "which, for the sake of humanity, it is to be hoped will not be extensively copied. I fancy he will propose to-day."