"No need to caution me, dearest. You know I never give myself away. Keep a guard on yourself. Don't smile too much, or look at me too meaningly when he is telling us, or he'll spot it. You know, you are a little indiscreet at times." The Earl smiled genially. "I know, I know, Mary. There is no fool like an old fool, they say. But this is really a great thing. I wrung it out of old Greatorex. And, once in Spain, we shall get him out of the reach of that young minx, Isobel Clandon." Mary's brows contracted into a slight frown: Love had left her stranded, but she was still very sympathetic to young lovers. "Why are you so hard on poor Isobel, father?" she asked in her clear, kind voice. "I know she is poor, but she is a lady and well-born." Her voice faltered a little, as she added, "Hugh was poor, when you gave your consent that I should marry him. Why do you make this distinction with Guy?" The Earl looked a little embarrassed. "My dear Mary, you are a sensible girl, and you must see that the circumstances are totally dissimilar. Hugh was the younger son of a house as noble as our own. True he was poor, but I could have helped you." "And if you were ready to help me, you can help Guy and Isobel," flashed Lady Mary quickly. The Earl spoke a little irritably. "It is very strange you can't see it. Isobel Clandon is, I admit, quite a lady in the technical sense of the term. But Guy must look beyond that. He must marry in his own rank. Failing that, he must marry a woman with money." Lady Mary spoke with an equal irritation. "You are unjust, father, unjust both to Guy and Isobel. You have no right to ruin these two young lives with your prejudices and your old-world notions." Her voice dropped into a half-sob as she concluded. "What is there in the world better than real love? And these two love each other devotedly." The Earl was about to reply angrily, for he was a somewhat obstinate old man, and hated being thwarted. But, before he could utter a word, the door opened to admit Guy Rossett. Guy was a very handsome young fellow, with a winning and genial expression. He advanced and shook his father's hand warmly, and kissed his sister with equal affection. The Earl beamed upon him. Guy was his favourite of the two sons. Ticehurst was a languid young man about town, who did not appeal greatly to his more robust father. "Well, Guy, my dear boy, delighted to see you. Have you brought us any news?" Mary shot a warning glance at her father. Lord Saxham was always preaching reticence to other people, but he never observed it himself. If Guy had been just a little more subtle than he was, he would have smelt a rat at once. Guy spoke in his frank, almost boyish voice. "Splendid news, sir, but so good that I want to keep it to myself for a little bit. Shall we say till after dinner, when the servants have gone, and we are quite by ourselves."