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went to walk in the grounds; but Lord Warburton exercised
some ingenuity in engaging his least familiar guest in a
stroll apart from the others.
‘I wish you to see the place properly, seriously,’ he said.
‘You can’t do so if your attention is distracted by irrelevant
gossip.’ His own conversation (though he told Isabel a good
deal about the house, which had a very curious history) was
not purely archaeological; he reverted at intervals to mat-
ters more personal—matters personal to the young lady as
well as to himself. But at last, after a pause of some dura-
tion, returning for a moment to their ostensible theme, ‘Ah,
well,’ he said, ‘I’m very glad indeed you like the old barrack.
I wish you could see more of it—that you could stay here a
while. My sisters have taken an immense fancy to you—if
that would be any inducement.’
‘There’s no want of inducements,’ Isabel answered; ‘but
I’m afraid I can’t make engagements. I’m quite in my aunt’s
hands.’
‘Ah, pardon me if I say I don’t exactly believe that. I’m
pretty sure you can do whatever you want.’
‘I’m sorry if I make that impression on you; I don’t think
it’s a nice impression to make.’
‘It has the merit of permitting me to hope.’ And Lord
Warburton paused a moment.
‘To hope what?’
‘That in future I may see you often.’
‘Ah,’ said Isabel, ‘to enjoy that pleasure I needn’t be so
terribly emancipated.’
‘Doubtless not; and yet, at the same time, I don’t think

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