of the farmer's daughter. But she was neither quiet or dumb in her
disgrace. When Lady Arabella would not hear her, she went to Mr
Gresham. She forced her uncle to move in the matter. She gained over
to her side, one by one, the potentates of the parish, and ended by
bringing Mam'selle Larron down on her knees with a confession of the
facts. From that time Mary Thorne was dear to the tenantry of
Greshamsbury; and specially dear to one small household, where a
rough-spoken father of a family was often heard to declare, that for
Miss Mary Thorne he'd face man or magistrate, duke or devil.

And so Mary Thorne grew up under the doctor's eye, and at the beginning
of our tale she was one of the guests assembled at Greshamsbury on the
coming of age of the heir, she herself having then arrived at the same
period of her life.



CHAPTER IV

LESSONS FROM COURCY CASTLE

It was the first of July, young Frank Gresham's birthday, and the
London season was not yet over; nevertheless, Lady de Courcy had
managed to get down into the country to grace the coming of age of the
heir, bringing with her all the Ladies Amelia, Rosina, Margaretta, and
Alexandrina, together with such of the Honourable Johns and Georges as
could be collected for the occasion.

The Lady Arabella had contrived this year to spend ten weeks in town,
which, by a little stretching, she made to pass for the season; and had