This queer notion of the young lady's delicacy a little staggered her distinguished father for a moment or two. What was he to say? She and he had really often named the thing to each other; and here the question was put to him plumply. The earl scorned a flat lie, and never condescended to equivocation except when it was absolutely necessary. "Sir," he said hesitatingly; "undoubtedly--If I were to say--that now and then, when your attentions have been so pointed"---- "'Pon my life, my Lord, I never meant it; if your Lordship will only believe me," interrupted Titmouse, earnestly; "I beg a thousand pardons--I mean no harm, my Lord." "Sir, there is no harm done," said the earl, kindly. "Sir, I know human nature too well, or I have lived thus long to little purpose, not to be aware that we are not always master of our own feelings." "That's exactly it, my Lord! Excuse me, but your Lordship's hit the thing off to a T, as folks say!" "Do not imagine, Mr. Titmouse, that I think your attentions may have been _unpleasant_ to the Lady Cecilia--by no means; I cannot, with truth, say any such thing!" "Oh, my Lord!" exclaimed Titmouse, taking off his hat, bowing, and placing his hand upon his breast, where his little heart was palpitating with unusual force and distinctness. "_Faint heart_, says the proverb, Mr. Titmouse, ah, ha!" quoth the earl, with gentle gayety. "Yes, my Lord, it's enough to make one faint indeed! Now, if your Lordship--(I'm not used to this sort of thing, my Lord)--would just make a sort of beginning for me, my Lord, with the Lady Cicely, to set us going, my Lord--the least shove would do, my Lord--because, my Lord, _courtship's_ a very--a--a"---- "Well, Mr. Titmouse," said the earl, with a gracious smile, "since your modesty is so overpowering--I'll try--to become your ambassador to the Lady Cecilia. If, Mr. Titmouse," his Lordship presently added in a serious tone, "you are fortunate enough to succeed in engaging the affections of the Lady Cecilia, you will discover that you have secured indeed an invaluable prize." "To be sure, my Lord! And consider, too, her Ladyship's uncommon high rank--it's so particular condescending.--By the way, my Lord, will she--if she and I can hit it off, so as to marry one another--be called _Mrs. Titmouse_, or shall I be called _Lord Titmouse_? I wonder how that will be, my Lord? 'Tis only, your Lordship understands, on Lady Cicely's account I ask, because it's, in course, all one to _me_ when once we're married." The earl was gazing at him as he went on, with an expression of mingled surprise and concern: presently, however, he added with calm seriousness, "Sir, it is not an unreasonable question, though I should have imagined that you could hardly--be--but--in short, the Lady Cecilia will retain her rank, and become the Lady Cecilia Titmouse--that is, during my life; but on my demise, she succeeds to the barony of Drelincourt, and then will be called, of course, Lady Drelincourt."