Blanche, put on her trial, faltered--coloured--and, to her mother's deep disgust, pleaded guilty of loving John Feversham at last. Lady Enville shed some real tears over the demoralisation of her daughter's taste. "There is no manner of likeness, Blanche, betwixt this creature and Don John," she urged. "Ay, mother, there is _no_ likeness," said Blanche calmly. "I thank Heaven for that mercy!" muttered Rachel. "Likeness!" repeated Sir Thomas. "Jack Feversham is worth fifty Don Johns." "Dear heart! how is the child changed for the worser!" sobbed her disappointed mother, who saw the coronet and fortune, on which she had long set her heart for Blanche, fading away like a dissolving view. "Orige, be not a fool!" growled Rachel suddenly. "But, dear heart! I am a fool to ask thee." There was a family tempest. But at last the minority succumbed; and Blanche became the betrothed of John Feversham. From the day of Jack's departure from Enville Court with Gertrude, Sir Thomas never heard another word of his debts. Whether Jack paid them, or compounded for them, or let them alone, or how the matter was settled, remained unknown at Enville Court. They only heard the most flourishing accounts of everything connected with Jack and Gertrude. They were always well; Jack was always prospering, and on the point of promotion to a higher step of the social ladder. Sir Thomas declared drily, that his only wonder was that Jack was not a duke by this time, considering how many steps he must have advanced. But Lady Gertrude never paid another visit to Enville Court; and nobody regretted it except Jack's step-mother. Jack's own visits were few, and made at long intervals. His language was always magniloquent and sanguine: but he grew more and more reserved about his private affairs, he aged fast, and his hair was grey at a time of life when his father's had been without a silver thread. Sir Thomas was by no means satisfied with his son's career: but Jack suavely evaded all inquiries, and he came to the sorrowful conclusion that nothing could be done except to pray for him. It was late in the autumn, and the evening of Blanche's departure from home after her marriage. John Feversham's clerical labours were to lie in the north of Cheshire, so Blanche would not be far away, and might be expected to visit at the Court more frequently than Lucrece or Jack. By the bride's especial request, the whole family from the parsonage were present at the ceremony, and Lysken was one of the bridesmaids. The guests had been dancing in the hall; they were now resting, standing or sitting in small groups, and conversing,--when Clare stole out of the garden-door, and made her way to the arbour.