She has chosen to accept you as her future husband, and I am bound to see that she is treated with good faith, honour, and fair observance." Frank made his demand very well, while Lord Fawn was looking like a whipped dog.

"Of course," said his lordship, "all I want is, that the right thing should be done." "The right thing will be done.

My cousin wishes to keep nothing that is not her own.

I may tell her, then, that she will receive from you an assurance that you have had no intention of departing from your word ?" After this, Lord Fawn made some attempt at a stipulation that this assurance to Lizzie was to be founded on the counter-assurance given to him that the matter of the diamonds should be decided by proper legal authority; but Frank would not submit to this, and at last the Under-Secretary yielded.

The engagement was to remain in force.