“A gentleman to see Miss Douglas!” repeated Mrs. Coolidge, contemptuously, while Isabel pounced upon the card and read the name, “Adrian Dredmond.” The color flushed over her fair face in a scarlet flood. “There is some mistake here,” she said, sharply, to her servant. Then turning to her mother, she added: “Mamma, it is Lord Dredmond.” She had persisted in giving him this title ever since she had learned that he was the grandson of an earl, although Wilbur had repeatedly told her that he did not care to have it used until he came into his property. He was very modest about it. “Of course, there is a mistake,” returned Mrs. Coolidge. “You had better pay more attention. The gentleman doubtless wishes to see Miss Isabel,” she said, severely, to the servant. “Isabel, you must go down and receive him yourself. Find out, if you can, what he wants of her, and make yourself as agreeable as possible to him,” Mrs. Coolidge remarked, running her eye critically over her daughter, to see that everything was all right. “It is time that minx was out of the way; she seems to have a strange faculty for bewitching the gentlemen, without appearing to do so,” muttered Isabel, as she swept from the room, smoothing out her distorted face, and followed by her brother’s contemptuous glances. Wilbur himself soon after arose and left. A jealous feeling was beginning to creep into his own heart, and he wondered what Adrian Dredmond could want of Brownie Douglas. CHAPTER XVIII AN UNSUCCESSFUL SEARCH When Isabel entered the drawing-room, Mr. Dredmond arose to salute her; but an expression of disappointment swept over his fine face, when he saw Miss Coolidge instead of Miss Douglas. Isabel approached him, holding out her white hand, and saying, cordially: “This is a pleasure, my lord.” He flushed at the title. “You mistake, Miss Coolidge,” he said, smiling, as he shook hands with her, “I am not lord, or, at least, I should say, that I prefer not to answer to that title at present. While my grandfather lives I prefer to be only plain Mr. Dredmond.” “The title suits you, nevertheless,” she answered, sweeping him an admiring glance, and then drooping her lashes shyly. “I hope to be worthy of it when it becomes mine,” he replied, gravely, and wondering why she did not explain Miss Douglas’ absence. But it was no part of her plan to do so. She intended to appropriate the call to herself, and make the most of her opportunity. Ever since she had learned that he was heir to an earldom she had resolved to exert all her powers to win him, and become “my lady,” and now she set herself to work to charm him. She began chatting in a lively manner, and possessing much native tact, and a very; pleasing address, she beguiled him out of half an hour before he was aware of it.