Captain Ponsonby had wearied her, and Lord Farnborough's manner had offended her. Were these things an equivalent to the estranged manner of her friend? She wished she had been Fanny Ponsonby, for then Sir John Spottiswoode would have sought her. She wished she had been Fanny Ponsonby, for then the gentlemen would have avoided her. She had no pleasure in being so publicly attended by Captain Ponsonby and his guest. She would have given worlds to have been silent and free from remark. Lady Wetheral took her seat by Christobelle's side, as she gazed vacantly upon the sparkling waters. "Your thoughts are far away, my love, and yet I can guess their flight. They are at this moment at Clanmoray, and you are thinking of Fanny Ponsonby." The truth of the remark startled Christobelle. It brought the colour into her face and forehead. "Never mind Fanny Ponsonby, Bell. You have no rival there!" "Do you think so, mamma?" she exclaimed. "How can you possibly tell his feelings?" "His attention was exclusively given to you, Bell, though I confess you coquetted rather rashly." "With whom did I coquette, mamma? I cannot endure that expression, it sounds so frivolous and vain." "My love, strangers would remark you flirted too much with Captain Ponsonby, though _I_ could comprehend your intentions, and I was amused with your little _tracasseries_." "But how can you judge of his feelings towards Miss Fanny Ponsonby, mamma?" "Because her attachment to him could not be concealed; it was apparent in her looks, and in the pain she discovered during his attentions to you." "We hardly exchanged words, mamma," remarked Christobelle, in great surprise; "and then only in the boat returning from the island." "I am ignorant of what took place during your return, my love; but I saw enough to convince me that Lord Farnborough does not return the love of poor Fanny Ponsonby." Lord Farnborough!--and her thoughts were with Sir John Spottiswoode! Her eyes fell upon the Lake in bitter disappointment. "I thought _he_ had watched me--I thought _he_ had not cared for Fanny Ponsonby!" were her silent reflections. "I see," continued Lady Wetheral, in tones of triumph, "his lordship is jealous of Captain Ponsonby; and there you acted with great tact. I am sure it will lead to a proposal. He will be afraid of Arthur Ponsonby, and it will lead him to take a hasty step, but that step will exalt you into the future Duchess of Forfar. I fancied his Grace asthmatic this morning; he certainly wheezed very painfully as we walked up the pathway. This will raise you far above your sisters, my love; far more exalted than Julia. Lord Farnborough has proved my physician; he has entirely chased away my nervous complaints."