Satisfactory on the whole as her child's training had been, on the point of her religious convictions, the Marchioness had occasionally felt some disturbing suspicions. I do not mean that Lady Isabelle was not firmly grounded in her belief of the thirty-nine articles; indeed, she was, if anything, a trifle too orthodox for her day and generation; but the Dowager knew to her cost that missions were a tabooed subject. Her daughter had even refused to _slum_ with the Viscountess Thistledown, and worse than all, charity bazaars, though patronised by Royalty, were her pet aversions. To the Marchioness, who no longer "sold well," and whose ambition was to see Lady Isabelle tethered in the next stall to a Princess, such heresies were naturally repugnant. Mr. Lambert was very strong on all these points, and had just been suggesting to her a scheme of his own, to raise money for a worthy object, conceived on principles that would have put the authorities of Monte Carlo to the blush. So she patted her daughter's hand, established her in her own place, and murmuring that she was glad Isabelle felt the need of advice, and that she might safely rely on "dear Mr. Lambert's wisdom and--er--commonsense," betook herself to Kensington stitch and a remote corner. But her daughter's confidences admitted of no publicity. "Suppose we go to the conservatory, Mr. Lambert," she suggested, "we're quite sure of finding it unoccupied at this hour, and I've a confession to make." "Certainly, my dear, certainly," he replied, following her in the direction she suggested. "Though I'm sure," he added, "that Lady Isabelle would have done nothing which she would not be willing that anybody should know, if need were." "I hope not," she answered, and a moment later they were alone. "Come now," he said, "what is this terrible confession; not so great a sin, I'm sure, that we cannot easily find a way for pardon or reformation." "There's no sin to discuss," she replied, "at least, none that I've committed, unless unconscious participation is a crime. I want to speak to you about my marriage." "Ah, yes; with Mr. Stanley--a most desirable arrangement, I've been given to understand." "No--not with Mr. Stanley--I'm speaking of my marriage with Lieutenant Kingsland." "But, my dear young lady, that's impossible. Lieutenant Kingsland is already married." "Yes, he's married to me." "To you? What? How can he be?" "Because you married him to me two days ago. "Nothing of the sort," cried the old man in irritated bewilderment. "I married him to Miss Fitzgerald." "You married him to me, Mr. Lambert." "But I ought to know best whom I married, and to whom, Lady Isabelle." "You ought certainly; but, in this case, it seems you do not." "But Miss Fitzgerald said----" "Ah, that's just the point. What did Miss Fitzgerald say?" "Really, I can't remember the conversation, word for word; she came to make the arrangements, and I inferred----"