"Oh, no. It is only now and then she is so dissipated. But she must keep up the dignity of the Hall, you know, for the sake of Lord Lancaster. All this present gayety is in honor of his return." "Has Lord Lancaster been abroad, then?" Leonora asked, carelessly. "Why, my love, what a strange question!" said her aunt, staring. "What is there strange about it, Aunt West?" asked the girl. "Why, that you should ask me if Lord Lancaster has been abroad--as if any one should know better than yourself." "I, Aunt West? Why, what should I know of Lady Lancaster's husband?" exclaimed Leonora, wondering if her aunt's brain were not just a little turned. "Why, my dear girl, who said anything about her husband? She's a dowager. The old Lord Lancaster has been dead these two years. Of course I meant the young heir." "The old lady's son?" asked Leonora, irreverently. "Her nephew, my dear. You know I told you just now that she never had a child." "Oh, yes, I was very careless to forget that. I beg your pardon. So then it is her nephew who has been abroad?" "Yes, or rather her husband's nephew," replied Mrs. West. "Where has he been, aunt?" continued the girl, carelessly. Mrs. West looked as if she thought Leonora had parted with her senses, if ever she had possessed any. "Why, he has been to America, of course. Didn't he fetch you to England, Leonora? And hasn't he but just gone out of the room? Are you making fun of your old auntie, dear?" Leonora stood still, looking at her relative with a pale, startled face. "Why, that was Captain Lancaster," she said, faintly after a minute. "Of course," answered Mrs. West. "He's an officer in the army, but he is Lord Lancaster, of Lancaster Park, too. Dear me, dear me, didn't you really know that much, Leonora?" "N-no; I didn't. I thought he was nothing but a soldier. He--he told me that he was as poor as--as a church-mouse!" faltered Leonora, as red as a rose, and with a lump in her throat. She was just on the point of breaking down and crying with vexation. How had he dared chaff her so? "Well, so he is poor--not as poor as a church-mouse, of course, for he has Lancaster Park and five thousand acres of woodland; but then he has no money--it was all squandered by the dead-and-gone lords of Lancaster. So Captain Clive Lancaster never left the army when he came into the title. He could not support it properly, and so my lady lives on here, and some day, if he marries to please her, she will give him all her money," said Mrs. West, volubly. Leonora went over to the window, and stood looking out at the fair, peaceful English landscape in silence. Her readiness of speech seemed to have deserted her. The pretty face was pale with surprise. "You must be tired, dear. Do lie down and rest yourself," said Mrs. West. "I must leave you now for a little while. Oh, I had almost forgotten--your luggage, Leonora--did you bring any?" "Yes, there were several trunks," Leonora answered, without turning her head.