Year: 1879

ly, that am concerned, I don't mind ap.
pealing to you to resort to the only method
can think of, of settling the difficulty. Why
not marry Emily Houghton You lno"
she'd have you directly, ifyou asked her,


Frank gasped as though bucket of cold
water had been dashed over him. "Marry
Emily Houghton !" he echoed in dismay. Il
never thought of such thing"


"There is no reason why you should not
think of it, at all events. I am sure she lis a
good, amiable girl, and would make an excel
lent wife and she has the desirable qusliti'
cation of being one of the richest heiresses in
this part Of the country"


Gall that may be very true" rejoined
Frank. "Still, 1 could not, for moment,
entertain the proposition-in fact, it is utter
ly out of the question"


"You are too prompt and too positive IN
your replies" remarked Sir Francis rather
testify. "What I want is that you should, at
least, take the subject into consideration
view it fairly in its diiifaarent and thea
give me calm, reasonable answer"


"There is but one aspect in which l can
view it, sir" said Frank, speaking with
equal warmth on his part. IF every stone Of
the house had to be pulled down and every
stick of timber sold and carried away, as .
consequence of my failing to marry Emily
Houghton, I should be obliged to refuse to
marry her. Why, sir, would you have me
marry without love?"


Sir Francis was too angry, at the moment,
to reply to this question to which, indeed,
Frank did not seem to expect reply, for he
jumped up out of his chair and walked off to
window, where he stood for some minutes
with his back to his father, looking out. 1t
did seem to him that it was unreasonable for
his father to be angry, and all the exertion
ought to be on his own part. Sir Francis was
not generally unreasonable; but he had so
thought over this question, so fully persuaded
himself that he had justice and reason on his
side, and that Franks good sense would make
him take a similar view of it, that his disap-
pointment involuntarily assumed the form of
anger land for the moment he felt himself to
be an injured man.


A few seconds of silence, however, served
to cool the temper of both father and son,
who were generally the best of friends. Frank
was the first to speak again, which he did in
his ordinary tone, leaving the window and
turning again to Sir Francis as he spoke.


"Does Comfy know about this, sir?'' he
asked.


Comfy was the family solicitor. eyes, he
knows" replied Sir Francis. "He drew up
the papers"


"And what is his opinion? mean, about
the best way of raising the money" -
"He could think of no way but selling
Dutton and the town house-except by bor.
rowing in other quarters, which would be just
as bad. told him it was an impossibility
to do either"


---"It is the first time there has beena debt
at least, to my knowledge" said Frank, after
another silence. He could think Of nothing
else just then to say.


Eyes, the first time. 1t has always been
principle with all of us never to spend money
foolishly, or live beyond our means; that's
why the estate has thriven and prospered as
it has done. But IL have been fool,
must acknowledge. I don't pretend to ex-
cuse myself in the least. You, of all people,
have right to blame me, as of course you
do," said Sir Francis, gloomily.


"Blame you am not blaming you
father" said his son, very gently and respect
fully. ''That should feel the case to he an
unpleasant one is natural enough but it is
on your account, far more than my own, that
1 am annoyed. am young, and can work
for living, if needs be. can study pro-
fession-medicine, or law, would be best and
in few years I might do very we'll. Sup
pose were younger son, the case would not
be very different-at least, as regards my
prospects"


"But you are not younger son, and it is
not fitting that you should be ousted out OF
your proper place; above all that, I should
be the one to GUST you. And as for profes-
sion-why, my dear boy, it would take years
upon years for you to make fortune that
way Besides, think of the heir of Beech
void practicing law or surgery-whata ridic-
ulous affair it would seem; so incongruous,
mean; not that l wish to cast any disparage-
ment upon either profession, but you know as
we'll as do, Frank, that we have always been
country gentlemen; people devoted to our
own estate, and it would break my heart to
see you 60 out of the beaten track"


Sir Francis spoke in a very melancholy
tone His heart was heavy within him, and
his aspect showed it, as he sat with his head
upon his hand, his figure bowed and deep
cloud resting upon his brow. 1tstruck Frank,
as he looked at him, that he had suddenly
grown older and grayer than before. He
longed to be able to say something comforting.
But what was there to say2


81 thought, Frank" his father went on,
presently, leaning back in his chair, and fix
ing his eyes again on his sons face, "that you
loved the old place, almost, if not quite, as
we'll as do"


"Well, sir, and so I do," answered the
young man. "Why should you suppose the
contrary"


because you spoke, few minutes ago, of
preferring to see the house and everything
around it go to ruin, to complying with a