‘And why not, mamma?’ said Olive, who had already begun to whimper; ’Captain Hibbert loves me, I know, very dearly, and I like him; he is of very good family, and he has enough to support me.’

The moment was a supreme one, and Mrs. Barton hesitated to strike and bring the matter to a head.  Would it be better, she asked herself, to let things go by and use her influence for the future in one direction?  After a brief pause she decided on the former course.  She said: 

’My dear child, neither your father nor myself could ever consent to see you throw yourself away on Captain Hibbert.  I am afraid you have seen too much of him, and have been led away into caring for him.  But take my word for it, a girl’s love is only a fleur de peau.  When you have been to a few of the Castle balls you’ll soon forget all about him.  Remember, you are not twenty yet; it would be madness.’

‘Oh! mamma, I didn’t think you were so cruel!’ exclaimed Olive, and she rushed out of the room.

Mrs. Barton made no reply, but her resolve was rapidly gaining strength in her mind:  Olive’s flirtation was to be brought at once to a close.  Captain Hibbert she would admit no more, and the girl was in turn to be wheedled and coerced.

Nor did Mrs. Barton for a moment doubt that she would succeed; she had never tasted failure; and she stayed only a moment to regret, for she was too much a woman of the world to waste time in considering her mistakes.  The needs of the moment were ever present to her, and she now devoted herself entirely to the task of consoling her daughter.  Barnes, too, was well instructed, and henceforth she spoke only of the earls, dukes, lords, and princes who were waiting for Olive at the Castle.

In the afternoon Mrs. Barton called Olive into the drawing-room, where woman was represented as a triumphant creature walking over the heads and hearts of men. ‘Le genie de la femme est la beaute,’ declared Milord, and again:  ’Le coeur de l’homme ne peut servir que de piedestal pour l’idole.’

‘Oh!  Milord, Milord!’ said Mrs. Barton.  ’So in worshipping us you are idolaters.  I’m ashamed of you.’

’Pardon, pardon, madame:  Devant un amour faux on est idolatre, mais a l’autel d’un vrai, on est chretien.’

And in such lugubrious gaiety the girl grieved.  Captain Hibbert had been refused admission; he had written, but his letters had been intercepted; and holding them in her hand Mrs. Barton explained she could not consent to such a marriage, and continued to dazzle the girl with visions of the honours that awaited the future Marchioness of Kilcarney.  ’An engaged girl is not noticed at the Castle.  You don’t know what nice men you’ll meet there; have your fun out first,’ were the arguments most frequently put forward; and, in the excitement of breaking off Olive’s engagement, even the Land League was forgotten.  Olive hesitated, but at length allowed herself to be persuaded to at least try to captivate the marquis before she honoured the captain with her hand.  No sooner said than done.  Mrs. Barton lost not a moment in writing to Captain Hibbert, asking him to come and see them the following day, if possible, between eleven and twelve.  She wanted to speak to him on a matter which had lately come to her knowledge, and which had occasioned her a good deal of surprise.