She was not a girl given to flirting,--not prone to outward demonstrations of partiality for a young man; but she never withdrew herself from her intended husband, and Fred seemed quite willing to be attentive.

Not a word was said to hurry the young people, and Lady Scroope's hopes were high.

Of course no allusion had been made to those horrid Irish people, but it did not seem to Lady Scroope that the heir had left his heart behind him in Co.

Clare.
Fred had told his aunt in one of his letters that he would stay three weeks at Scroope, but she had not supposed that he would limit himself exactly to that period.

No absolute limit had been fixed for the visit of Mrs.Neville and her younger son, but it was taken for granted that they would not remain should Fred depart.