have Mrs. Grundy, egged on by Mrs. Oreswell,
calling us over the coals and bringing
us to book very speedily. It is clear
that in their position the best thing for
them would be to be received by some lady
relative of their own, or in default of that, by
some one whose name and character would
be a complete answer to anything which
our friends Mrs. Grundy, or Mrs. Creswell,
might choose to say about them. Have they
no such female relations? No! I fear then
that, for their own sakes, the best thing we
can do is not to interfere in the matter.
It is very hard for you, I can see clearly,
as you will be undoubtedly deterred from
paying any visits to Miss Gertrude until—
Stay, I've an idea: it's come upon me so
suddenly that it has almost taken my
breath away, and I don't know whether I
dare attempt to carry it out. Wait, and
let me think it over."

The idea that had occurred to Joyce was,
to lay the state of affairs before Lady Caroline
Mansergh, and ask her advice and
assistance in the matter. He felt certain
that she would act with promptitude, and at
the same time with great discretion. Her
knowledge of the world would tell her
exactly what was best to be done under
the circumstances, while the high position
which she held in society, and that not
alone by reason of her rank, would
effectually silence any malicious whisperings
and critical comments which would inevitably
be made on the proceedings of a less
favoured personage. The question was,
dare he ask her to interfere in the matter?
He had no claim on her, he knew; but
she had always shown him such great
favour, that he thought he might urge his
request without offence. Even in the last
letter which he had received from her, just
before he started on his election campaign,
she reminded him of his promise to allow
her to be of service to him in any possible
way, and never to permit any idea of the
magnitude or difficulty of the task to be
undertaken to influence him against asking
her to do it. Yes, he felt sure that Lady
Caroline would be of material assistance to
him in his emergency; the only question
was, was he not wasting his resources?
These young ladies were nothing to him;
to him it was a matter of no moment
whether they remained at Woolgreaves, or
were hunted out to genteel lodgings. Stay,
though! To get rid of them from their
uncle's house, to remove them from her
presence, in which they were constantly
reminding her of bygone times, had, according
to Mr. Benthall's story, been Marian
Creswell's fixed intention from the moment
of her marriage. Were they to leave now,
outcast and humbled, she would have
gained a perfect victory; whereas if they
were received under the chaperonage of a
person in the position of Lady Caroline
Mansergh, it would be anything but a
degradation of station for the young ladies,
and a decided blow for Mrs. Creswell
That thought decided him; he would
invoke Lady Caroline's aid at once.

"Well," said he, after a few minutes'
pause, when he had come to this determination,
"you have waited, and I have
thought it over—"

"And the result is—?" asked Mr. Benthall.

"That I shall be bold, and act upon the
idea which just occurred to me, and which
is briefly this: There is in London a lady
of rank and social position, who is good
enough to be my friend, and who, I feel
certain, will, if I ask her to do so, interest
herself in the fortunes of these two young
ladies, and advise us what is best to be
done for them under present circumstances.
It is plain that after what has occurred
they can stay no longer at Woolgreaves."

"Perfectly plain. Maud would not listen
to such a thing for a moment, and Gertrude
always thinks with her sister."

"That's plucky in Miss Maud, and pluck
is not a bad quality to be possessed of when
you are thrown out into the world on your
own resources, as some of us know from
experience. Then they must leave as soon
as possible. Lady Caroline Mansergh, the
lady of whom I have just spoken, will
doubtless be able to suggest some place
where they can be received, and where
they would have the advantage of her
occasional surveillance."

"Nothing could possibly be better,"
cried Mr. Benthall, in great glee. "I cannot
tell you, Mr. Joyce, how much I am
obliged to you for your disinterested
co-operation in this matter."

"Perhaps my co-operation is not so
disinterested as you imagine," said Joyce,
with a grave smile. " Perhaps—but that's
nothing now."

"Will you write to Lady Caroline
Mansergh at once? Time presses, you know."

"Better than that, I will go up to London
and see her. There will necessarily
be a lull in the canvassing here for the next
two or three days, and I shall be able to
explain far more clearly than by letter.
Besides I shall take the opportunity of