"Take my advice, dear James——" she began; but Stanley felt this was a step too far, and hastened to put himself on the defensive.
"That is not my name, Lady Port Arthur," he said, quietly.
"But surely," she continued, pressing her point, "your friends call you by a disrespectful contraction of it.
"Jim?" he asked, laughing. "Oh, that's because my Christian name is quite unfitted for ordinary usage—it's only brought out on state occasions."
"May I inquire what it is?"
"Aloysius."
"Dear me, no, I don't think I could call you that; but as I was saying, if you take my advice you'll see as little as possible of Isabelle to-day. Leave her to herself; it's far wiser."
The Secretary felt decidedly relieved.
"I quite agree with you," he replied. "You may depend on my following your advice to the letter," and he turned towards the house.
"One point more," she said, detaining him with a gesture, "I strongly disapprove of secret engagements. I don't wish the insinuations made against my daughter that one hears about that impudent young minx, Miss Fitzgerald.— Why, they actually hinted that she was engaged to you!"