Mr. Merton was a good deal distressed at the second postponement of the marriage, and Lady Julia, who had already ordered her dress for the wedding, did all in her power to make Sybil break off the match.  Dearly, however, as Sybil loved her mother, she had given her whole life into Lord Arthur’s hands, and nothing that Lady Julia could say could make her waver in her faith.  As for Lord Arthur himself, it took him days to get over his terrible disappointment, and for a time his nerves were completely unstrung.  His excellent common sense, however, soon asserted itself, and his sound, practical mind did not leave him long in doubt about what to do.  Poison having proved a complete failure, dynamite, or some other form of explosive, was obviously the proper thing to try.