"How is dear mamma?" The Serjeant assured her that the Countess was well in health. At this time Lady Anna had not visited her mother since she had left Keppel Street, and had been told that Lady Lovel had refused to see her till she had pledged herself never to marry Daniel Thwaite. "I do so wish I might go to mamma!" "With all my heart I wish you could, Lady Anna. Nothing makes such heart-burning sorrow as a family quarrel. But what can I say? You know what your mother thinks?" "Couldn't you manage that she should let me go there just once?" "I hope that we can manage it;--but I want you to listen to me first. Lord Lovel is back in London." She pressed her lips together and fastened one hand firmly on the other. If the assurance that was required from her was ever to be exacted, it should not be exacted by Serjeant Bluestone. "I have seen his lordship to-day," continued the Serjeant, "and he has done me the honour to promise that he will dine here to-morrow." "Lord Lovel?" "Yes;--your cousin, Earl Lovel. There is no reason, I suppose, why you should not meet him? He has not offended you?" "Oh no.--But I have offended him." "I think not, Lady Anna. He does not speak of you as though there were offence." "When we parted he would hardly look at me, because I told him--. You know what I told him." "A gentleman is not necessarily offended because a lady does not accept his first offer. Many gentlemen would be offended if that were so;--and very many happy marriages would never have a chance of being made. At any rate he is coming, and I thought that perhaps you would excuse me if I endeavoured to explain how very much may depend on the manner in which you may receive him. You must feel that things are not going on quite happily now." "I am so unhappy, Serjeant Bluestone!"