"Mamma has done so. She has come for two months, Georgie."
Georgie groaned. "Then I shall remain at Castle Wafer."
"No, you won't," cried Frederick, and then hastened to turn his apparent discourtesy into a laugh. "We wouldn't keep you, Georgina."
"And I could not spare you," said the dean.
They entered the room, Georgina--who so proud as she?--on her father's arm. Sir Isaac, who was playing chess with Mrs. Carleton, rose to welcome him. Mrs. Carleton rose also. She had never seen the Dean of Westerbury, and the introduction took place. Calm, impassive, perfectly self-possessed, she stood; exchanging a few words of courtesy with the dean, her handsome features looking singularly attractive, one of the beautiful crystal chessmen held between her slender fingers. Not a woman in the world could look much less insane than did Charlotte Carleton; and the dean turned his eyes on Frederick, in momentary wonder at that gentleman's hallucination.
Georgina stole up to the master of Castle Wafer.
"You'll let me stay here, won't you, Sir Isaac?"
"You know I will. Let you stay!"
"But you'll ask papa to let me stay?"
"My dear, yes. Does he want to take you away?"