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sister provided Launcelot Linzie with the one argument which he wanted
to convince Natalie： 〃Choose between making the misery of your life by
marrying _him_； and making the happiness of your life by marrying
_me。_〃
〃When shall I see her？〃 asked Turlington； with Miss Lavinia （in tears
which did _her_ credit） in possession of one of his hands； and Sir Joseph
（in tears which did _him_ credit） in possession of the other。
〃She will be back to dinner； dear Richard。 Stay and dine。〃
〃Thank you。 I must go into the City first。 I will come back and dine。〃
With that arrangement in prospect； he left them。
An hour later a telegram arrived from Natalie。 She had consented to
dine； as well as lunch； in Berkeley Squaresleeping there that night； and
returning the next morning。 Her father instantly telegraphed back by the
messenger； insisting on Natalie's return to Muswell Hill that evening； in
time to meet Richard Turlington at dinner。
〃Quite right。 Joseph；〃 said Miss Lavinia； looking over her brother's
shoulder； while he wrote the telegram。
〃She is showing a disposition to coquet with Richard；〃 rejoined Sir
Joseph； with the air of a man who knew female human nature in its
remotest corners。 〃My telegram； Lavinia； will have its effect。〃
Sir Joseph was quite right。 His telegram _had_ its effect。 It not only
brought his daughter back to dinnerit produced another result which his
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prophetic faculty had altogether failed to foresee。
The message reached Berkeley Square at five o'clock in the afternoon。
Let us follow the message。
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FIFTH SCENE。
The Square。
Between four and five in the afternoonwhen the women of the
Western regions are in their carriages； and the men are at their clubs
London presents few places more conveniently adapted for purposes of
private talk than the solitary garden inclosure of a square。
On the day when Richard Turlington paid his visit to Muswell Hill；
two ladies （with a secret between them） unlocked the gate of the railed
garden in Berkeley Square。 They shut the gate after entering the inclosure；
but carefully forbore to lock it as well； and carefully restricted their walk
to the westward side of the garden。 One of them was Natalie Graybrooke。
The other was Mrs。 Sancroft's eldest daughter。 A certain temporary interest
attached； in the estimation of society； to this young lady。 She had sold well
in the marriage market。 In other words； she had recently been raised to the
position of Lord Winwood's second wife； his lordship conferring on the
bride not only the honors of the peerage； but the additional distinction of
being stepmother to his three single daughters； all older than herself。 In
person； Lady Winwood was little and fair。 In character； she was dashing
and resolutea complete contrast to Natalie； and （on that very account）
Natalie's bosom friend。
〃My dear； one ambitious marriage in the family is quite enough！ I have
made up my mind that _you_ shall marry the man you love。 Don't tell me
your courage is failing youthe excuse is contemptible； I decline to
receive it。 Natalie！ the men have a phrase which exactly describes your
character。 You want back…bone！〃
The bonnet of the lady who expressed herself in these peremptory
terms barely reached the height of Natalie's shoulder。 Natalie might have
blown the little airy； light…haired； unsubstantial creature over the railings
of the garden if she had taken a good long breath and stooped low enough。
But who ever met with a tall woman who had a will of her own？ Natalie's
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languid brown eyes looked softly down in submissive attention from an
elevation of five feet seven。 Lady Winwood's brisk blue eyes looked
brightly up in despotic command from an elevation of four feet eleven （in
her shoes）。
〃You are trifling with Mr。 Linzie； my dear。 Mr。 Linzie is a nice fellow。
I like him。 I won't have that。〃
〃Louisa！〃
〃Mr。 Turlington has nothing to recommend him。 He is not a well…bred
old gentleman of exalted rank。 He is only an odious brute who happens to
have made money。 You shall _not_ marry Mr。 Turlington。 And you _shall_
marry Launcelot Linzie。〃
〃Will you let me speak； Louisa？〃
〃I will let you answernothing more。 Didn't you come crying to me
this morning？ Didn't you say； 'Louisa； they have pronounced sentence on
me！ I am to be married in the first week of the New Year。 Help me out of it；
for Heaven's sake！' You said all that； and more。 And what did I do when I
heard your story？〃
〃Oh； you were so kind〃
〃Kind doesn't half express it。 I have committed crimes on your account。
I have deceived my husband and my mother。 For your sake I got mamma
to ask Mr。 Linzie to lunch （as _my_ friend！）。 For your sake I have
banished my unoffending husband； not an hour since； to his club。 You
wretched girl； who arranged a private conference in the library？ Who sent
Mr。 Linzie off to consult his friend in the Temple on the law of clandestine
marriage？ Who suggested your telegraphing home； and stopping here for
the night？ Who made an appointment to meet your young man privately in
this detestable place in ten minutes' time？ I did！ I did！ I did！ All in your
interests。 All to prevent you from doing what I have donemarrying to
please your family instead of to please yourself。 （I don't complain； mind；
of Lord Winwood； or of his daughters。 _He_ is charming； his daughters I
shall tame in course of time。 You are different。 And Mr。 Turlington； as I
observed before； is a brute。） Very well。 Now what do you owe me on your
side？ You owe it to me at least to know your own mind。 You don't know it。
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You coolly inform me that you daren't run the risk after all； and that you
can't face the consequences on second thoughts。 I'll tell you what！ You
don't deserve that nice fellow； who worships the very ground