"Some time ago." "And to Carlyle, the lawyer! How did it come about ?" Isabel began to think how it did come about, sufficiently to give a clear answer.

"He asked me," she said, "and I accepted him.

He came to Castle Marling at Easter, and asked me then.

I was very much surprised." The earl looked at her attentively.

"Why was I kept in ignorance of this, Isabel ?" "I did not know you were kept in ignorance of it.