"It has been my good fortune," he continued boldly, "to fall deeply in love with your daughter, your Dorothy--and she has not spurned me." "No, Doll is a rare girl, a bonnie girl, and a good one, too. I love her better than I love myself, and forsooth, young man, we value ourselves at no sorry figure neither." "I wonder whoever saw her that did not love her," said the deeply-smitten swain sententiously. They were both engaged in conversation now in common sympathy, and the eyes of the old knight sparkled with joy as he thought of his darling and her many charms. "She is the light of my life," he replied. "See, there she goes, with her bewitching grace," and he caught hold of Manners and drew him into the recess of the oriel window and pointed out where Dorothy and her sister were talking together on the green. "Margaret is to wed Sir Thomas Stanley this autumn, I hear," ventured the esquire. "Yes--and Dorothy is to be wedded this winter also," replied the baron as he heard the partner of his joys pass again outside the door. "This winter!" echoed Manners in blank dismay. "Dorothy to be wedded this winter! To whom, I pray?" "To Sir Edward Stanley." Manners staggered back against the wall as though he had been smitten by some invisible hand. His face blanched, his lips quivered, and he gasped for very breath. This was news indeed, far beyond his worst anticipations, and he was almost crushed by the blow. The baron watched him with a feeling akin to dismay. He hated his unpleasant task, and half regretted the promise he had made Sir Thomas Stanley. He pitied the unfortunate esquire who stood before him, and sincerely blamed himself for accepting the business, and the dame for thrusting it upon him. Manners soon rallied, much to Sir George's relief; and the two sat down together at the little table. The baron, tried to express his sympathy with him in his great disappointment which had just come upon him, but his words were clumsy, and afforded no relief. "It is not yet quite decided upon, is it?" asked the young man. "We expect Sir Edward now at any time," the knight replied. "But, Sir George, Dorothy has plighted her troth to me." "Ah, we know it; Margaret has told us of it. 'Twas a foolish thing to do." "And Father Philip blessed the match," pursued Manners. "But she has been promised to Edward Stanley," was the quiet reply, "and a Vernon's promise is never broken, never." The two remained silent awhile. Sir George had made wonderful progress with his mission of late--a fact due to the knowledge that Lady Vernon was standing just outside the door; and before either of them spoke again she entered the room, and making a formal courtesy to the visitor, she advanced to her husband's side. "You have told Master Manners, I suppose?" she inquired in a harsh, unfeeling voice that stabbed the lover's heart by every word. "Yes, my dear," he replied, looking as if he were ashamed of the whole business, "I have told him all."