Her brother, although more triumphant,--for how could he fail to
triumph after such words as Isabel had spoken to him,--still felt
his difficulties very seriously. She had imbued him with a strong
sense of her own firmness, and she had declared that she would go
away and leave him altogether if the Duke should be unwilling to
receive her. He knew that the Duke would be unwilling. The Duke,
who certainly was not handy in those duties of match-making which
seemed to have fallen upon him at the death of his wife, showed by
a hundred little signs his anxiety that his son and heir should
arrange his affairs with Lady Mabel. These signs were manifest to
Mary,--were disagreeably manifest to Silverbridge,--and were
unfortunately manifest to Lady Mabel herself. They were manifest
to Mrs Finn, who was clever enough to perceive that the
inclinations of the young heir were turned in another direction.
And gradually they became manifest to Isabel Boncassen. The host
himself, as host, was courteous to all his guests. They had been
of his own selection, and he did his best to make himself pleasant
to them all.
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