If she could only get Frank away without eing his love, she might yet so work upon him, by means of the message whibsp;Mary had nt, as to postpone, if not break off, this hateful match.
It was inceivable that a youth of twenty-three, and subsp;a youth as Frank, should be obstinately stant to a girl possd of no great beauty--so argued Lady Arabella to herlf--and who had her wealth, birth, nor fashion to reend her.
And thus it was at last ttled--the squire being a willing party to the agreement--that Frank should go up and be badgered in lieu of his father. At his age it was possible to make it appear a thing desirable, if not necessary--on at of the importanbsp;veyed--to sit day after day in the chambers of Messrs Slo; Bideawhile, and hear musty law talk, and finger dusty law parts.
The squire had made many visits to Messrs Slow & Bideawhile, and he knew better. Frank had not hitherto been there on his own bottom, and thus he fell easily into the trap.
Mr Oriel was also going to London, and this was another reason for nding Frank. Mr Oriel had business of great importanbsp;whibsp;it was quite necessary that he should execute before his marriage. How mubsp;of this business sisted in going to his tailor, buying a wedding-ring, and purchasing some other more costly prent for Beatribsp;we need not here inquire. But Mr Oriel was quite on Lady Arabella''s side with referenbsp;to this mad e, and as Frank and he were now fast friends, some good might be done in that way. "If we all caution him against it, he hardly withstand us all!" said Lady Arabella to herlf.
The matter was broached to Frank on the Saturday evening, and ttled between them all the same night. Nothing, of cour, was at that moment said about Mary; but Lady Arabella was too full of the subjebsp;to let him go to London without telling him that Mary was ready to recede if only he would allow her to do so. About eleven o''clobsp;Frank was sitting in his own room, ing over the difficulties of the situation--thinking of his father''s troubles, and his own position--when he was roud from his reverie by a slight tap at the door.