第5章

SirRobertMainwaring，whosefamilyhadforthreecenturiespossessedOldenhurst，hadreceivedthenewsofhisfinancialruin；

andthevastpilewhichhadsurvivedtherepeatedinvasionofsuperstition，force，intrigue，andevenprogress，hadsuccumbedtoafoeitsfoundersandproprietorshadloftilyignoredandlefttoJewsandtraders。Theacquisitionofmoney，exceptbydespoilment，gift，royalfavor，orinheritance，hadbeenunknownatOldenhurst。

Thepresentdegeneratecustodianofitsfortunes，staggeringundertheweightofitssentimentalmortmainalreadyalludedto，hadspeculatedinordertokeepupitsmaterialstrength，thatwasgraduallyshrinkingthroughimpoverishedlandandtheruinedtradeithaddespised。HehadinvestedlargelyinCaliforniamines，andwasthechiefshareholderinaSanFranciscoBank。Butthemineshadprovedworthless，theBankhadthatmorningsuspendedpayment，owingtothefailureofalargelandandtimbercompanyontheSierraswhichithadimprudently"carried。”ThesparkwhichhaddemolishedOldenhursthadbeenfiredfromthenewtelegraph-stationinthehotelabovethegreatSierrancanyon。

Therewasalargehouse-partyatOldenhurstthatmorning。ButithadbeenapartofthehistoryoftheMainwaringstoacceptdefeatgallantlyandasbecametheirblood。SirPercival，——thesecondgentlemanontheleftasyouenteredthelibrary，——unhorsed，dyingonadistantmoor，withahandfuloffollowers，abandonedbyacharmingPrinceandamiserablecause，wasscarcelyagreaterherothanthisruinedbutundauntedgentlemanofeighty，enteringthebreakfast-roomafewhourslaterasjauntilyashisgoutwouldpermit，andconscientiouslydispensingthehospitalitiesofhiscrumblinghouse。Whenhehadarrangedafewpleasurepartiesforthedayandhimselfthoughtfullyanticipatedthedifferenttastesofhisguests，heturnedtoLadyMainwaring。

"Don\'tforgetthatsomebodyoughttogotothestationtomeettheBradleys。FrankwritesfromSt。Moritzthattheyareduehereto-day。”

LadyMainwaringglancedquicklyatherhusband，andsaidsottovoce，"Doyouthinkthey\'llcaretocomeNOW？Theyprobablyhaveheardallaboutit。”

"Nothowitaffectsme，"returnedSirRobert，inthesametone；

"andastheymightthinkthatbecauseFrankwaswiththemonthatCaliforniamountainwewouldbelieveithadsomethingtodowithRichardsoninvolvingtheBankinthatwretchedcompany，wemustreallyINSISTupontheircoming。”

"Bradley!"echoedtheHon。CaptainFitzHarry，overhearingthenameduringalateforageonthesideboard，"Bradley!——therewasanawfullyprettyAmericanatBiarritz，travellingwithacousin，I

think——aMissMasonorMacy。Thosesortofpeople，youknow，whohaveacompanionasprettyasthemselves；bringyoudownwiththeotherbarrelifonemisses——eh？Veryclever，bothofthem，andhardlyanyaccent。”

"Mr。BradleywasaverydearfriendofFrank\'s，andmostkindtohim，"saidLadyMainwaring，gravely。

"Didn\'tknowthereWASaMr。Bradley，really。Hedidn\'tcometothefore，then，"saidtheunabashedCaptain。"DeucedhardtofollowupthoseAmericanhusbands!"

"Andtheirwiveswouldn\'tthankyou，ifyoudid，"saidLadyGriseldaArmiger，withasweetsmile。

"IfitistheMrs。BradleyImean，"saidLadyCanterbridgefromthelowerendofthetable，lookingupfromherletter，"wholooksalittlelikeMrs。Summertree，andhasaprettycousinwithherwhohasverygoodfrocks，I\'mafraidyouwon\'tbeabletogetherdownhere。She\'sbookedwithengagementsforthenextsixweeks。SheandhercousinmadealltherunningatGrigsbyRoyal，andshehasquitedeposedthatotherAmericanbeautyinNorthforeland\'sgoodgraces。Sheregularlyaffiche\'dhim，anditispiteoustoseehimfollowherabout。No，mydear；Idon\'tbelievethey\'llcometoanyoneoflessrankthanaMarquis。Iftheydid，I\'msureCanterbridgewouldhavehadthematBuckenthorpealready。”

"IwonderiftherewaseveranythinginFrank\'sadmirationofthisMissMacy？"saidLadyMainwaringafewmomentslater，lingeringbesideherhusbandinhisstudy。

"Ireallydon\'tknow，"saidSirRobert，abstractedly:"hisletterswerefilledwithherpraises，andRichardsonthought——"

"Praydon\'tmentionthatman\'snameagain，"saidLadyMainwaring，withthefirstindicationoffeelingshehadshown。"Ishouldn\'ttrusthim。”

"Butwhydoyouask？"returnedherhusband。

LadyMainwaringwassilentforamoment。"Sheisveryrich，I

believe，"shesaidslowly。"Atleast，FrankwritesthatsomeneighborsoftheirswhomhemetintheEngadinetoldhimtheyhadsoldthesiteofthatabsurdcottagewherehewasillforsomeextravagantsum。”

"MydearGeraldine，"saidtheoldman，affectionately，takinghiswife\'shandinhisown，thatnowforthefirsttimetrembled，"ifyouhaveanyhopebaseduponwhatyouarethinkingofnow，letitbethelastandleast。YouforgetthatPagettoldusthatwiththebestcarehecouldscarcelyensureFrank\'sreturntoperfecthealth。EvenifGodinhismercysparedhimlongenoughtotakemyplace，whatgirlwouldbewillingtotieherselftoamandoomedtosicknessandpoverty？Hardlytheoneyouspeakof，mydear。”

LadyCanterbridgeprovedatrueprophet。Mrs。BradleyandMissMacydidnotcome，regretfullyallegingapreviousengagementmadeonthecontinentwiththeDukeofNorthforelandandtheMarquisofDungeness；buttheunexpectedandapocryphalhusbandDIDarrive。

"ImyselfhavenotseenmywifeandcousinsinceIreturnedfrommyvisittoyoursoninSwitzerland。IamgladtheywereabletoamusethemselveswithoutwaitingformeataLondonhotel，thoughI

shouldhavepreferredtohavemetthemhere。”SirRobertandLadyMainwaringwerecourteousbutslightlyembarrassed。LadyCanterbridge，whohadcometothestationinboredcuriosity，raisedherclearblueeyestohis。Hedidnotlooklikeafool，acomplaisantorfashionably-cynicalhusband——thiswell-dressed，well-mannered，butquietlyandsympatheticallyobservantman。Didhereallycareforhisselfishwife？wasitperfecttrustorsomeabsurdTransatlanticcustom？Shedidnotunderstandhim。Itweariedherandsheturnedhereyesindifferentlyaway。Bradley，alittleirritated，heknewnotwhy，atthescrutinyofthistall，handsome，gentlemanly-lookingwoman，who，however，inspiteofherbroadshouldersandnarrowhipspossessedarefinedmuliebritysuperiortomerewomanlinessofoutline，turnedslightlytowardsSirRobert。"LadyCanterbridge，Frank\'scousin，"explainedSirRobert，hesitatingly，asifconsciousofsomevagueawkwardness。

BradleyandLadyCanterbridgebothbowed，——possiblythelatter\'ssalutationwasthemostmasculine，——andBradley，eventuallyforgettingherpresence，plungedintoanearnest，sympathetic，andintelligentaccountoftheconditioninwhichhefoundtheinvalidatSt。Moritz。Theoldmanatfirstlistenedwithanalmostperfunctorycourtesyandahesitatingreserve；butasBradleywaslapsingintoequalreserveandtheydroveuptothegatesofthequadrangle，heunexpectedlywarmedwithawordortwoofseriouswelcome。Lookingupwithahalf-unconscioussmile，BradleymetLadyCanterbridge\'sexaminingeyes。

Thenextmorning，findinganopportunitytobealonewithhim，Bradley，withatactfulminglingofsympathyanddirectnessinformedhishostthathewascognizantofthedisasterthathadovertakentheBank，anddelicatelybeggedhimtoacceptanyservicehecouldrenderhim。"Pardonme，"hesaid，"ifIspeakasplainlytoyouasIwouldtoyourson:myfriendshipforhimjustifiesanequalfranknesstoanyoneheloves；butIshouldnotintrudeuponyourconfidenceifIdidnotbelievethatmyknowledgeandassistancemightbeofbenefittoyou。AlthoughIdidnotsellmylandstoRichardsonorapproveofhismethods，"hecontinued，"IfearitwassomesuggestionofminethateventuallyinducedhimtoformthelargerandmoredisastrousschemethatruinedtheBank。Soyousee，"

headdedlightly，"Iclaimarighttoofferyoumyservices。”

TouchedbyBradley\'ssincerityanddiscreetintelligence，SirRobertwasequallyfrank。DuringtherecitalofhisCalifornianinvestments——achronicleofalmostfatuousspeculationandimbecileenterprise——Bradleywasprofoundlymovedatthenaiveignoranceofbusinessandhopelessingenuousnessofthisoldhabitueofacynicalworldandanintriguingandinsinceresociety，towhomnoschemehadbeentoowildforacceptance。AsBradleylistenedwithahalf-saddenedsmiletothegravevisionsofthisagedenthusiast，herememberedtheson\'sunsophisticatedsimplicity:whathehadconsideredasthe"boyishness"ofimmaturitywasthetaintoftheutterlyunpracticalMainwaringblood。Itwasuponthisblood，andotherslikeit，thatOldenhursthadforcenturieswaxedandfattened。

Bradleywastruetohispromiseofassistance，andwiththeaidoftwoorthreeofhisbrother-millionaires，whoseknowledgeoftheresourcesofthelocalitywasnolesspowerfulandconvincingthanthesecurityoftheiractualwealth，managedtostaytheimmediateactionofthecatastropheuntiltheaffairsoftheSierranLandandTimberCompanycouldbeexaminedandsomeplanofreconstructionarranged。

Duringthisintervaloffivemonths，inwhichthecreditofSirRobertMainwaringwaspreservedwiththesecretofhisdisaster，BradleywasafrequentandwelcomevisitortoOldenhurst。ApartfromhisstrangeandchivalrousfriendshipfortheMainwarings——

whichwasasincomprehensibletoSirRobertasSirRobert\'sequallyeccentricandQuixoticspeculationshadbeentoBradley——hebegantofeelasingularandweirdfascinationfortheplace。ApatientmartyrinthevastLondonhousehehadtakenforhiswifeandcousin\'samusement，helovedtoescapethelonelinessofitsautumnsolitudeortheoccasionalgreaterlonelinessofhiswife\'ssocialtriumphs。Thehandsome，thoughtfulmanwhosometimesappearedatthefootofhiswife\'stableormeltedawaylikeawell-bredghostinthehollowemptinessofherbrilliantreceptions，piquedthelanguidcuriosityofafew。Adistinguishedpersonage，knownforhistactfulobservanceofconvenancesthatothersforgot，hadmadeapointofchallengingthisgentlemanlyapparition，andhadfolloweditupwithcourteouscivilities，whichledtoexchangeofmuchrespectbutnoincreaseofacquaintance。HehadevenspentaweekatBuckenthorpe，withCanterbridgeinthecovertsandLadyCanterbridgeinthemusic-roomandlibrary。Hehadreturnedmorethoughtful，andforsometimeafterwasmorefrequentinhisappearancesathome，andmoreearnestinhisrenewedeffortstoinducehiswifetoreturntoAmericawithhim。

"You\'llneverbehappyanywherebutinCalifornia，amongthosecommonpeople，"shereplied；"andwhileIwaswillingtoshareyourpovertyTHERE，"sheaddeddryly，"Iprefertoshareyourwealthamongcivilizedladiesandgentlemen。Besides，"shecontinued，"wemustconsiderLouise。SheisasgoodasengagedtoLordDunshunner，andIdonotintendthatyoushallmakeamessofheraffairshereasyoudidinCalifornia。”

ItwasthefirsttimehehadheardofLordDunshunner\'sproposals；

itwasthefirstallusionshehadevermadetoLouiseandMainwaring。

Meantime，theautumnleaveshadfallensilentlyoverthebroadterracesofOldenhurstwithlittlechangestothefortunesofthegreathouseitself。TheChristmashouse-partyincludedLadyCanterbridge，whosehusbandwasstilldetainedatHomburgincompanywithDunshunner；andBradley，whosewifeandcousinlingeredonthecontinent。HewasslightlyembarrassedwhenLadyCanterbridgeturnedtohimoneafternoonastheywerereturningfromthelakeandcongratulatedhimabruptlyuponLouise\'sengagement。

"Perhapsyoudon\'tcaretobecongratulated，"shesaid，ashedidnotimmediatelyrespond，"andyouhadaslittletodowithitaswiththatother？Itisawoman\'sfunction。”

"Whatother？"echoedBradley。

LadyCanterbridgeslightlyturnedherhandsomeheadtowardshimasshewalkedunbendinglyathisside。"Tellmehowyoumanagetokeepyourabsolutesimplicitysofresh。Doyousupposeitwasn\'tknownatOldenhurstthatFrankhadquitecompromisedhimselfwithMissMacyoverthere？"

"Itcertainlywasnotknown\'overthere，\'"saidBradley，curtly。

"Don\'tbeangrywithme。”

Suchanappealfromthetall，indifferentwomanathisside，soconfidentlysuperiortocriticism，andutteredinalowtone，madehimsmile，albeituneasily。

"Ionlymeanttocongratulateyou，"shecontinuedcarelessly。

"Dunshunnerisnotabadsortoffellow，andwillcomeintoagoodpropertysomeday。Andthen，societyissomadeupofcaprice，justnow，thatitiswellforyourwife\'scousintomakethemostofheropportunitieswhiletheylast。Sheisverypopularnow；butnextseason——"SeeingthatBradleyremainedsilent，shedidnotfinishthesentence，butsaidwithherusualabruptness，"DoyouknowaMissAramintaEulalieSharpe？"

Bradleystarted。CouldanyonerecognizehonestMintyinthehopelessvulgaritywhichthisfineladyhadmanagedtocarelesslyimportintohername？Hiseyekindled。

"Sheisanoldfriendofmine，LadyCanterbridge。”

"Howfortunate!ThenIcanpleaseyoubygivingyougoodnewsofher。Sheisthecomingsensation。Theysaysheisveryrich，butquiteoneofthepeople，youknow:infact，shemakesnoscruplesoftellingyouherfatherwasablacksmith，Ithink，andtakesthedearoldmanwithhereverywhere。FitzHarryravesabouther，andsayshernaiveteissomethingtoodelicious。Sheisregularlyinwithsomeofthebestpeoplealready。LadyDungenesshastakenherup，andNorthforelandisonlywaitingforyourcousin\'sengagementtobeabletogooverdecently。ShallIaskhertoBuckenthorpe？——

come，now，asanapologyformyrudenesstoyourcousin？"Shewasverywomanlynowinspiteofherhighcollar，herstraightback，andhertightly-fittingjacket，asshestoodtheresmiling。

Suddenly，hersmilefaded；shedrewherbreathinquickly。

Shehadcaughtaglimpseofhisusuallythoughtfulfaceandeyes，nowilluminatedwithsomepleasantmemory。

"Thankyou，"hesaidsmilingly，yetwithacertainhesitation，ashethoughtofTheLookoutandAramintaEulalieSharpe，andtriedtoreconcilethemwiththeladybeforehim。"Ishouldlikeitverymuch。”

"ThenyouhaveknownMissSharpealongtime？"continuedLadyCanterbridgeastheywalkedon。

"WhilewewereatTheLookoutshewasournearestneighbor。”

"AndIsupposeyourwifewillconsideritquiteproperforyoutoseeheragainatmyhouse？"saidLadyCanterbridge，withareturnofconventionallevity。

"Oh!quite，"saidBradley。

TheyhadreachedthelowNorman-archedside-entrancetothequadrangle。AsBradleyswungopenthebolt-studdedoakendoortoletherpass，shesaidcarelessly，——

"Thenyouarenotcominginnow？"

"No；Ishallwalkalittlelonger。”

"AndIamquiteforgiven？"

"Iamthankingyouverymuch，"hesaid，smilingdirectlyintoherblueeyes。Sheloweredthem，andvanishedintothedarknessofthepassage。

ThenewsofMinty\'ssuccesswasfurthercorroboratedbySirRobert，wholaterthateveningcalledBradleyintothestudy。"FrankhasbeenwritingfromNicethathehasrenewedhisacquaintancewithsomeoldCalifornianfriendsofyours——aMr。andMissSharpe。LadyCanterbridgesaysthattheyarewellknowninLondontosomeofourfriends，butIwouldliketoaskyousomethingaboutthem。LadyMainwaringwasonthepointofinvitingthemherewhenIreceivedaletterfromMr。SharpeaskingforaBUSINESSinterview。PraywhoisthisSharpe？"

"YousayhewritesforaBUSINESSinterview？"askedBradley。

"Yes。”

Bradleyhesitatedforamomentandthensaidquietly，"Perhaps，then，Iamjustifiedinabreachofconfidencetohim，inordertoansweryourquestion。HeisthemanwhohasassumedalltheliabilitiesoftheSierranLandandTimberCompanytoenabletheBanktoresumepayment。Buthediditontheconditionthatyouwerenevertoknowit。Fortherest，hewasablacksmithwhomadeafortune，asLadyCanterbridgewilltellyou。”

"Howveryodd——howkind，Imean。IshouldliketohavebeenciviltohimonFrank\'saccountalone。”

"Ishouldseehimonbusinessandbeciviltohimafterwards。”SirRobertreceivedtheAmerican\'slevitywithhisusualseriousness。

"No，theymustcomehereforChristmas。Hisdaughteris——？"

"AramintaEulalieSharpe，"saidBradley，indefiantmemoryofLadyCanterbridge。

SirRobertwincedaudibly。"Ishallrelyonyou，mydearboy，tohelpmemakeitpleasantforthem，"hesaid。

Christmascame，butnotMinty。ItdrewalargecontingentfromOldenhursttothequaintoldchurch，whocametoviewthegreen-

wreathedmonuments，andwallsspottedwithcrimsonberries，asifwiththebloodofformerOldenhurstwarriors，andtoimpressthewonderingvillagerswiththeineffablegoodnessandbountyoftheCreatortowardstheLordsofOldenhurstandtheirfriends。SirRobert，alittlegouty，keptthehouse，andBradley，somewhatuneasyattheSharpes\'absence，butmoredistraitwithotherthoughts，wanderedlistlesslyinthelonglibrary。Atthelowerangleitwasembayedintotheoctagonspaceofaformertower，whichwasfurnishedasaquaintrecessforwritingorstudy，piercedthroughitsenormouswallswithalance-shapedwindow，hiddenbyheavycurtains。HewasgazingabstractedlyatthemelancholyeyesofSirPercival，lookingdownfromthedarkpanelopposite，whenheheardthecrisprustleofaskirt。LadyCanterbridgetightlyandstifflybuttonedinblackfromherlongnarrowbootstoherslim，white-collaredneck，stoodbesidehimwithaprayer-bookinherunglovedhand。Bradleycoloredquickly；

thepenetratingincenseoftheChristmasboughsandbranchesthatdeckedthewallsandceilings，mingledwithsomeindefinableintoxicatingaurafromthewomanathisside，confusedhissenses。

Heseemedtobelosinghimselfinsomeforgottenpastcoevalwiththelong，quaintly-lightedroom，therichhangings，andthepaintedancestorofthishandsomewoman。Herecoveredhimselfwithaneffort，andsaid，"Youaregoingtochurch？"

"Imaymeetthemcominghome；it\'sallthesame。YoulikeHIM？"

shesaidabruptly，pointingtotheportrait。"Ithoughtyoudidnotcareforthatsortofmanoverthere。”

"Amanlikethatmusthavefelttheimpotenceofhissacrificebeforehedied，andthatcondonedeverything，"saidBradley，thoughtfully。

"Thenyoudon\'tthinkhimafool？Bobsaysitwasafairbargainforatitleandanoffice，andthatbydyingheescapedtrialandtheconfiscationofwhathehad。”

Bradleydidnotreply。

"Iamdisturbingyourillusionsagain。YetIratherlikethem。I

thinkyouarequitecapableofasacrifice——perhapsyouknowwhatitisalready。”

Hefeltthatshewaslookingathim；hefeltequallythathecouldnotrespondwithacommonplace。Hewassilent。

"Ihaveoffendedyouagain，Mr。Bradley，"shesaid。"PleasebeChristian，andpardonme。Youknowthisisaseasonofpeaceandgoodwill。”SheraisedherblueeyesatthesamemomenttotheChristmasdecorationsontheceiling。Theywerestandingbeforetheparteddraperyofthelancewindow。Midwaybetweenthearchedcurtainshungasprayofmistletoe——theconceitofamischievoushousemaid。Theireyesmetitsimultaneously。

BradleyhadLadyCanterbridge\'sslim，whitehandinhisown。Thenextmomentvoiceswereheardinthepassage，andthedoornearlyoppositetothemopeneddeliberately。Theideaoftheirapparentseclusionandhalfcompromisingattitudeflashedthroughthemindsofbothatthesametime。LadyCanterbridgesteppedquicklybackward，drawingBradleywithher，intotheembrasureofthewindow；thefoldsofthecurtainswungtogetherandconcealedthemfromview。

Thedoorhadbeenopenedbythefootman，usheringinabroad-

shoulderedman，whowascarryingatravelling-bagandanumbrellainhishand。Droppingintoanarm-chairbeforethecurtain，hewavedawaythefootman，who，evennow，mechanicallyrepeatedapreviouslyvainattempttorelievethestrangerofhisluggage。

"Youleavethat\'eregripsackwhereitis，youngman，andtellSirRobertMainwaringthatMr。DemanderSharpe，ofCaliforny，wishestoseehim——onbusiness——onBUSINESS，doye\'hear？Youhangonterthatsentence——onBUSINESS!it\'saboutezmuchezyoukincarry，I

reckon，andleavethatgripsackalone。”

FrombehindthecurtainBradleymadeasuddenmovementtogoforward；butLadyCanterbridge——nowquitepalebutcollected——

restrainedhimwithawarningmovementofherhand。SirRobert\'sstickandhaltingstepwerenextheardalongthepassage，andheenteredtheroom。Hissimpleandcourteousgreetingofthestrangerwasinstantlyfollowedbyarenewedattackuponthe"gripsack，"andareneweddefenceofitbythestranger。

"No，SirRobert，"saidthevoiceargumentatively，"thisyer\'saBUSINESSinterview，anduntilit\'sover——ifYOUplease——we\'llremainezweair。I\'mDemanderSharpe，ofCaliforny，andIandmydarter，Minty，oncethadthepleasureofknowingyourboyoverthar，andofmeetinghimagintheotherdayatNice。”

"Ithink，"saidSirRobert\'svoicegently，"thatthesearenottheonlyclaimsyouhaveuponme。IhaveonlyadayortwoagoheardfromMr。BradleythatIowetoyourgeneroushandsandyourdisinterestedliberalitythesavingofmyCaliforniafortune。”

Therewasthemomentarysoundofapushed-backchair，astampingoffeet，andthenMr。Sharpe\'svoicerosehighwiththeblacksmith\'soldquerulousaggrievedutterance"Soit\'sthatfinikin\'，conceitedBradleyagin——that\'sgiv\'meaway!Efthatman\'sall-firedbeliefinhisbeingtheAngelGabrielandDan\'lWebsterrolledinteronedon\'tbeatanythin\'!I

supposethathigh-flyin\'jay-birdkalkilatedtoputyouandmeandmygalandyerboyinterharnessforhisfourhosschariotandhesittin\'kamontheboxdrivin\'us!Whydon\'thetendtohisownbusiness，andlookarterhisownconcerns——insteado\'leavingJinnyBradleyandLooMacydependentonKingsandQueensandtitledfolksgen\'rally，andhe，JimBradley，philanderin\'withanotherman\'swife——whilethattharmanishardatworktryin\'tomakeahonestlivin\'ferhiswife，buckin\'aginfaroan\'thetigergen\'rallyatMonaco!Eh？Andthatmana-inter-meddlin\'withme!Ef，"

continuedthevoice，droppedtoatoneofhopelessmoralconviction，"efthere\'samanImor\'alydespise——it\'sthatfinikin\'

JimBradley。”

"Youquitemisunderstandme，mydearsir，"saidSirRobert\'shurriedvoice；"hetoldmeyouhadpledgedhimtosecrecy，andheonlyrevealedittoexplainwhyyouwishedtoseeme。”

Therewasagruntofhalf-placatedwrathfromSharpe，andthenthevoiceresumed，butmoredeliberately，"Well，tocomebacktobusiness:you\'vegotaboy，Francis，andI\'vegotadarter，Araminty。They\'vesortertakenashinetoeachotherandtheywanttogetmarried。Mindyer——waitamoment!——itwasn\'tallusso。No，sir；whenmygalAramintyfirstseedyourboyinCalifornyshewaspoor，andshedidn\'tkalkilatetogetinteranybody\'sfamilyunbeknownstoronsufferance。Thenshegotrichandyougotpoor；

andthen——holdonaminit!——sheallows，doesmygirl，thatthereain\'tanynearerchanceo\'theirmakingamatchthantheywereafore，forsheisn\'tgoin\'tohevitsaidthatshemarriedyoursonfurthechanceofsomedaybecomin\'LadyMainwaring。”

"Onemoment，Mr。Sharpe，"saidthevoiceoftheBaronet，gravely:

"IambothflatteredandpainedbywhatIbelievetobethekindlyobjectofyourvisit。Indeed，ImaysayIhavegatheredasuspicionofwhatmightbethesequelofthismostunhappyacquaintanceofmysonandyourdaughter；butIcannotbelievethathehaskeptyouinignoranceofhisunfortunateprospectsandhisstillmoreunfortunatestateofhealth。”

"WhenItoldyetoholdonaminit，"continuedtheblacksmith\'svoice，withatouchofquerulousnessinitsaccent，"thatwasjistwotIwascomin\'to。Iknowedpartofitfrommyownpocket，sheknowedtherestofitfromhislipandthedoctorssheinterviewed。

Andthenshesaystome——sezmygirlMinty——Pop，\'shesez，\'he\'sgotnothingtolivefornowbuthistitle，andthathenevermaylivetoget，sothatIthinkyekinjistgo，Pop，andfairlyandsquarely，asahonestman，askhisfathertoletmehevhim。\'

Them\'smydarter\'sownwords，SirRobert，andwhenItellyerthatshe\'sgotamilliono\'dollarstobackthem，ye\'llknowshemeansbusiness，everytime。”

"DidFrancisknowthatyouwerecominghere？"

"Blessye，no!hedon\'tknowthatshewouldhavehim。Efitkemtothat，heain\'tevenaskedher!Shewouldn\'tlethimuntilshewassureofYOU。”

"Thenyoumeantosaythereisnoengagement？"

"Incoursenot。Ireckonedtodothesquarethingfirstwithye。”

ThehaltingstepoftheBaronetcrossingtheroomwashearddistinctly。HehadstoppedbesideSharpe。"MydearMr。Sharpe，"

hesaid，inatroubledvoice，"Icannotpermitthissacrifice。Itistoo——toogreat!"

"Then，"saidSharpe\'svoicequerulously，"I\'mafraidwemustdowithoutyourpermission。Ididn\'treckontofindasorto\'BritishJimBradleyinyou。IfYOUcan\'tpermitmydartertosacrificeherselfbymarryin\'yourson，Ican\'tpermithertosacrificeherloveandhimbyNOTmarryin\'him。SoIreckonthisyerinterviewisover。”

"Iamafraidwearebotholdfools，Mr。Sharpe；but——wewilltalkthisoverwithLadyMainwaring。Come——"Therewasevidentlyaslightstrugglenearthechairoversomeinanimateobject。ButthenextmomenttheBaronet\'svoicerose，persuasively，"Really，Imustinsistuponrelievingyouofyourbagandumbrella。”

"Well，ifyou\'llletmetelegraph\'yes\'toMinty，Idon\'tcareifyerdo。”

Whentheroomwasquietagain，LadyCanterbridgeandJamesBradleysilentlyslippedfromthecurtain，and，withoutaword，separatedatthedoor。

TherewasamerryChristmasatOldenhurstandatNice。ButwhetherMinty\'slovingsacrificewasacceptedornot，orwhethersheeverreignedasLadyMainwaring，orlivedanuntitledwidow，Icannotsay。ButasOldenhurststillexistsinallitsprideandpower，itispresumedthattheperilthatthreateneditsfortuneswasaverted，andthatifanotherheroinewasnotfoundworthyofaframeinitspicture-gallery，atleastithadbeensustainedasofoldbydevotionandrenunciation。