Miss Boncassen
could be graceful as a nymph in doing the awkwardest thing! When
she had pretended to walk stiffly along, to some imaginary
marriage ceremony, with her foot stuck before her, with her chin in
the air, and one arm akimbo, Silverbridge had been all afire with
admiration. Lady Mabel understood it all. The American girl must
be taken away,--from out of the reach of the young man's senses,--
and then the struggle must be made.
Lady Mabel had not been long at Matching before she learned that
she had much in her favour. She perceived that the Duke himself
had not suspicion of what was going on, and that he was strongly
disposed in her favour. She unravelled it all in her own mind.
There must have been some agreement, between the father and the
son, when the son had all but made his offer to her. More than
once she was half-minded to speak openly to the Duke, to tell him
all that Silverbridge had said to her and all that he had not
said, and to ask the father's help in scheming against that rival.
But she could not find the words with which to begin.
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