WYLDER'S HJUVD.
168
lect anywhere to have heard of. What will be thought?
— what will the world say? Will you be good enough
to explain yourself? /'II not undertake your excuses, I
promise you."
"Excuses! I don't think of excuses, Lady Chelford;
no person living has a right to demand one."
"I don't believe you are serious, Dorcas," said Lady
Chelford, more anxiously, and also more gently. I can't
suppose it. I'm an old woman, my dear, and I shan't
trouble you very long. I can have no object in mislead-
ing you, and you have never experienced from me any-
thing but kindness and affection. I think you might
trust me a little, Dorcas — but, that, of course, is for you,
you are your own mistress now — but, at least, you may
reconsider the question you propose deciding in so extra-
ordinary a way. I allow you might do much better than
Mark Wylder, but also worse. He has not a title, and
his estate is not enough to carry the point d force aVar-
gent; I grant all that. But together the estates are
more than most titled men possess; and the real point is
the fatal slip in your poor uncle's will, which makes it so
highly important that you and Mark should be united;
bear that in mind, dear Dorcas. You must not act pre-
cipitately, and under the influence of mere pique. His
absence, I will lay my life, will be satisfactorily accounted
for; he has set his heart upon this marriage, and I really
think you will almost drive him mad if you act as you
threaten."
"You have, indeed, dear Lady Chelford, been always
very kind to me, and I do trust you," replied the beauti-
ful heiress, turning her large, shadowy eyes upon the
dowager, and speaking in slow and silvery accents,
somehow very melancholy. "I dare say it is very im-
prudent, and I don't deny that Mr. Wylder may have