Oliver Dynevor’s was a succinct business-like letter, certifying his cousin that he had been mistaken in his view of the marriage.  Dona Rosita de Guzman was an orphan of a very respectable family, who had come to spend the year before her intended noviciate at the house of an uncle.  She was very young, and Mr. Dynevor believed that the marriage had been hastened by her relations making her feel herself unwelcome, and her own reluctance to return to her convent, and that she might not be aware how very recently Mr. Ponsonby had become a widower.  For his own part, he was little used to ladies’ society, and could form no judgment of the bride; but he could assure Lord Ormersfield that she had been guilty of no impropriety; she was visited by every one; and that there was no reason against Mary Ponsonby associating with her.

‘What could the clerk be thinking of?’ exclaimed Louis.

’My first impression was not taken from the clerk.  What I heard first, and in the strongest terms, was from the captain of a ship at Valparaiso.  In fact, it was in the mouth of all who had known the family.  Robson neither confirmed nor contradicted, and gave me the notion of withholding much from regard for his employer.  He lamented the precipitation, but seemed willing to make excuses.  He distinctly said, he would not take it on himself to recommend Miss Ponsonby’s continuing her journey.  He was right.  If I had known all this, I should still have brought her home.  I must write an apology, as far as her character is concerned; but, be that as it may, the marriage is atrocious—­an insult—­a disgrace!  He could not have waited six weeks—­’

‘But I must go to Mary!’ cried Louis, as though reproaching himself for the delay.  ’Oh! that she should have forced herself to that wedding, and spared me!’

‘I am coming with you,’ said the Earl.  ’She will require my personal assurance that all this makes no difference to me.’

‘I am more afraid of the difference it may make to her,’ said Louis.  ‘You have never believed how fond she is of her father.’

On arriving, they were ushered into the room where Miss Ponsonby was at breakfast, and a cup of tea and untasted roll showed where her niece had been.  She received them with stiff, upright chillness; and to their hope that Mary was not unwell, replied—­’Not very well.  She had been over-fatigued yesterday, and had followed her advice in going to lie down.’

Louis began to imagine a determination to exclude him, and was eagerly beginning to say that she had asked him to come that morning--could she not see him? when the lady continued, with the same severity—­’Until yesterday, I was not aware how much concern Lord Fitzjocelyn had taken in what related to my niece.’