selda. But then—" But then a young lady, though she need not jump down a gentleman's throat, or throw herself into his face, may give some signs that she is made of flesh and blood, especially when her papa and mamma, and all belonging to her, are so anxious to make the path of her love run smooth. That was what was passing through Lady Lufton's mind; but she did not say it all; she merely looked it.
"I don't think she will ever allow herself to indulge in an unauthorized passion," said Mrs. Grantly.
"I am sure she will not," said Lady Lufton, with ready agreement, fearing perhaps in her heart that Griselda would never indulge in any passion, authorized or unauthorized.
"I don't know whether Lord Lufton sees much of her now," said Mrs. Grantly, thinking perhaps of that promise of Lady Lufton's with reference to his lordship's spare time.
"Just lately, during these changes, you know, every body has been so much engaged. Ludovic has been constantly at the House; and then men find it so necessary to be at their clubs just now."
"Yes, yes, of course," said Mrs. Grantly, who was not at all disposed to think little of the importance of the present crisis, or to wonder that men should congregate together when such deeds were to be done as those which now occupied the breasts of the queen's advisers. At last, however, the two mothers perfectly understood each other. Griselda was still to remain with Lady Lufton, and was to accept her ladyship's son if he could only be induced to exercise his privilege of asking her; but, in the mean time, as this seemed to be doubtful, Griselda was not to be debarred from her privilege of making what use she could of any other string which she might have to her bow.
"But, mamma," said Griselda, in a moment of unwatched intercourse between the mother and daughter, "is it really true that they are going to make papa a bishop?"
"We can tell nothing as yet, my dear. People in the world are talking about it. Your papa has been a good deal with Lord De Terrier."
"And isn't he prime minister?"
"Oh yes, I am happy to say that he is."
"I thought the prime minister could make any one a bishop that he chooses—any clergyman, that is."
"But there is no see vacant," said Mrs. Grantly.
