Mr Plantagenet Palliser A week passed over Mr Crosbie's head at Courcy Castle without much inconvenience to him from the well-known fact of his matrimonial engagement.

Both George de Courcy and John de Courcy had in their different ways charged him with his offence, and endeavoured to annoy him by recurring to the subject; but he did not care much for the wit or malice of George or John de Courcy.

The countess had hardly alluded to Lily Dale after those few words which she said on the first day of his visit, and seemed perfectly willing to regard his doings at Allington as the occupation natural to a young man in such a position.

He had been seduced down to a dull country house, and had, as a matter of course, taken to such amusements as the place afforded.

He had shot the partridges and made love to the young lady, taking those little recreations as compensation for the tedium of the squire's society.