"I feel myself very unfit for the task," said the young man, who foresaw that this altered situation might interfere with certain plans of his own. "I hope you will excuse me; you can tell her the whole affair yourself, for here she comes." And the young lady accordingly made her appearance. After looking at them for some time-- "What are you all so doleful about?" she began. "Has papa bitten you too, Cecil? Pray don't be a duke--it makes people so very ridiculous." "Miss Louise--mademoiselle, I ought to say," said Mr Bullion, "I have communicated certain facts to Cecil Hope." "Which he doesn't believe--do you, Cecil?" interposed the daughter. "He does believe them, and I beg you will believe them too. They are simply, that I am a nobleman of the highest rank, and you are my right honourable daughter." "Oh, indeed! and how was our cousin Spain when you heard from Madrid?--our uncle Austria, was he quite well?--was George of England recovered of the gout?--and above all, how was uncle Smith, the shipowner of Wapping?" "Girl! you will drive me mad," replied the Marquis, "with your Smiths and Wappings. I tell you, what I have said is really the case, and to-morrow you will see the inauguration with your own eyes. Meantime, I must dress, to receive a deputation of the nobility of the province, who come to congratulate me on my arrival." "Oh, what's this I hear," exclaimed Miss Smith, rushing into the room, "are you a real marquis, Mr Bullion?" "Yes, madam, I have that honour." "And does the marriage with my sister stand good?" "To be sure, madam." "Then, I'm very glad of it. Oh how delightful!--to be my Lord this, my Lady that. I am always devoted to the aristockicy; and now, only to think I am one of them myself." "How can you be so foolish, aunt?--I'm ashamed of you," said Louise; "what terrible things you were telling me, an hour ago, of the wickedness of the nobility?" "Miss Smith, though she does not express herself in very correct language, has more sensible ideas on this subject than you," said the marquis, looking severely at his daughter, who was looking, from time to time, with a malicious smile at the woe-begone countenance of Cecil Hope. "Remember, madam, who it is you are," continued the senior. "La, papa! don't talk such nonsense," replied the irreverent daughter. "Do you think I am eighteen years of age, and don't know perfectly well who and what I am?" "Three of your ancestors, madam, were Constables of France." "That's nothing to boast of," returned Louise; "no, not if they had been inspectors of police." "You are incorrigible, girl, and have not sense enough to have a proper feeling of family pride." "Haven't I? Am I not proud of all the stories uncle David tells us of his courage, when he was mate of an Indiaman? and aunt Jenkison--don't you remember, sir, how she dined with us at Christmas, and had to walk in pattens through the snow, and tumbled in Cheapside?"