The Yale expositor., 1897-12-24
CHAPTER II.-(Continued.J

III Is not Il WONldu BOlub IL 10 A'ANN'
my lord" said the lawyer. Marry my
daughter, and you will not have an
other care in the world. She VIII De
happy; you will be free and wealthy
shall be content"
81 have known the time" remarked
Lord Caraven, "when l should nave
horsewhipped any man who dared 10
make such proposition to me-
imagine all fine feeling has become ex-
tinct in me- Can you not manage all
this for me without asking me to mar
ry your daughter?"
NO" replied the lawyer, quietly
CAS- 1 have told you, If had son, ne
should have been master OF Ravens
mere; falling that, my daughter must
be its mistress"
mot with my consent" said the earl
haughtily.
"Your refusal to marry her makes
her more certainly so. If you refuse
If you prefer ruin, disgrace, dishonor,
shame, and death to marrying an inno-
cent girl whose fortune would set you
straight in the world-it is at your own
option. If you refuse to make my
daughter Countess Caraven, in
two months time she will be known
over the land as Miss Ransome of
Ravensmere-you will have gained
nothing by your refusal"
The earl saw 1t, and for the first time
during the interview the calmness OF
his face and manner was broken.
II have never seen the girl do not
know If I could endure her. tell you,
Ransome, this affair of yours outrivals
the bids in the slave markets"
Nonsense, my lord; have only cop
led French custom. All that nom
sense about love is but a relic of bar
barism. The French are the most civ
ilized of nations. How do they ar
range their marriages? Just as / wish
to arrange this. Who hears of love
before marriage, with them? You want
money! offer you certain sum, with
fair young wife,"
"You must know that, although am
ruined man, there is an immense
ven and the daughter of a money
lender" said the young nobleman.
There can be no happiness in mar
! riage where there is so great an in
equality"
"The advantages and the losses are
equal" replied Arley. There are men
who, in my place, would not act as 1
am doing, who would think twice be-
fore offering a wife and fortune to one
who-pardon me-is so little deserving
them"
"You cannot care much for your
daughter, to be willing to sacrifice her
to a spendthrift," said the earl
"My lord, each one amongst us has
his price. / want title, rank and posi-
ton for my daughter. You can give
them to her. You want wealth-she
will bring that to you. Will you give
me an answer"
Il should not purchase a picture
without looking at it," said the earl.
II cannot promise to marry lady
whom have never SEEN"
/ ~" Sh"iA SSO hOi my lOIu- at ONCE,
il you will"
The earl looked around him.
"Where?" he asked briefly.
The lawyers face flushed.
II do not keep my daughter here,
Lord Caraven, amongst deeds and pa
pers. She is a lady by education, and
lives at her own home"
where is that?" asked the earl.
carelessly.
cat the Hollies, near Kew, my lord.
If you please, we will drive down
there"
Il do not know-it is not right
do not care to save myself in such a
fashion. Even II married your daugh-
ter, am quite sure that l should not
like her."
Every one likes Hildred," said Mr..
Ransome.
"Hildred! That is a pretty, quaint
name" said the earl. 81 do not mind
going to the Hollies with you. but ]
make no promise. If l should not like
your daughter, she would be very
miserable"
GAS you will, my lord; shall urge no
more. / am determined my daughter
shall marry into the peerage; my
whole heart is set upon 1t. You are
not the only nobleman on my books.
/ will say no more about it, You will
have the money ready for me or give
up Ravensmere at the appointed time"
While the lawyer urged him Lord
Caraven had been firm in his refusal.
Now that he stood face to face with
bitter, black ruin, shame and disgrace,
with ignominy and death, now that the
urgent pleadings ceased, he at once be-
gan to waver.
81 will go down to your place with
you" he said.
GAS you please, my lord" was the
cautious answer.
Mr.. Ransome began to perceive that
the less he said the better 1t would be
for his cause.
my cab Is at the door," continued
the earl. 1--WE can go in that"
without another word thew started