Edward laughed at the notion that the grave senior had himself become fascinated, but without utterly scouting it, until he found that the little lady whom he had led to dinner the first day, was an heiress; and from that, and other indications, he exactly divined the nature of his father's provident wishes.

But this revelation rendered Mrs.
Lovell's behaviour yet more extraordinary.

Could it be credited that she was abetting Sir William's schemes with all her woman's craft?
"Has she," thought Edward, "become so indifferent to me as to care for my welfare ?" He determined to put her to the test.

He made love to Adeline Gosling.

Nothing that he did disturbed the impenetrable complacency of Mrs.Lovell.She threw them together as she shuffled the guests.