"Oh, really, they are so many, it is not easy to reckon them up. Alice Arden, for instance, had _two_ lovers--Lord Wynderbroke and Vivian Darnley." "What, two lovers charged upon one lady? Is not that false heraldry? And does she really care for that young fellow, Darnley?" "I'm told she really is deeply attached to him. But that does not prevent her accepting Lord Wynderbroke. He has spoken, and been accepted. Old Sir Reginald told my guardian his brother, last night, and _he_ told me in the carriage, as we drove home. I wonder how soon it will be. I should rather like to be one of her bridesmaids. Perhaps she will ask me." Mr. Longcluse felt giddy and stunned; but he said, quite gaily-- "If she wishes to be suitably attended, she certainly will. But young ladies generally prefer a foil to a rival, even when so very beautiful as she is." "And there was Vivian Darnley at one side, I'm told, whispering all kinds of sweet things, and poor old Wynderbroke at the other, with his glasses to his eyes, reporting all he saw. Only think! What a goose the old creature must have looked!" And the young lady laughed merrily. "But can you tell me about the other affair?" she asked. "What is it?" "Oh! you know, of course--Lady May and Richard Arden; is it true that it was all settled the day before yesterday, at that kettle-drum?" "There again my information is quite behind yours. I did not hear a word of it." "But you must have seen how very much in love they both are. Poor young man! I really think it would have broken his heart if she had been cruel, particularly if it is true that he lost so much as they say at the Derby yesterday. I suppose he did. Do you know?" "I'm sorry to say," said Mr. Longcluse, "I'm afraid it's only too true. I don't know exactly how much it is, but I believe it is more than he can, at present, very well bear. A mad thing for him to do. I'm really sorry, although he has chosen to quarrel with me most unreasonably." "Oh? I wasn't aware. I fancied you would have heard all from him." "No, not a word--no." "Lady May was talking to me at Raleigh Court, the day we were there--she can talk of no one else, poor old thing!--and she said something had happened to make him and his sister very angry. She would not say what. She only said, 'You know how very proud they are, and I really think,' she said, 'they ought to have been very much pleased, for everything, I think, was most advantageous.' And from this I conclude there must have been a proposal for Alice; I shall ask her when I see her." "Yes, I daresay they are proud. Richard Arden told me so. He said that his family were always considered proud. He was laughing, of course, but he meant it." "He's proud of being proud, I daresay. I thought you would be likely to know whether all they say is true. It would be a great pity he should be ruined; but, you know, if all the rest is true, there are resources." Longcluse laughed.