He suggested to his niece-in-law that it was very expedient that, during her coming hour of trial, she should not absent herself from her husband's family, and at last persuaded her to take up her residence at the palace at Bobsborough till such time as the event should be over.

Lady Eustace was taken to the palace, and in due time a son was born.

John, who was now the uncle of the heir, came down, and, with the frankest good humour, declared that he would devote himself to the little head of the family.

He had been left as guardian, and the management of the great family estates was to be in his hands.

Lizzie had read no poetry to him, and he had never liked her, and the bishop did not like her, and the ladies of the bishop's family disliked her very much, and it was thought by them that the dean's people,--the Dean of Bobsborough was Lizzie's uncle,--were not very fond of Lizzie since Lizzie had so raised herself in the world as to want no assistance from them.