have heard the report--a true one, I
believe--of Mr Donne's engagement to his daughter. He must be glad
she jilted him now, I fancy, after this public exposure of her
father's conduct." (That was an awkward speech, as Mr Farquhar felt;
and he hastened to cover it, by going on without much connexion:)

"Dick Bradshaw is my informant about all these projected marriages
in high life--they are not much in my way; but since he has come
down from London to take his share in the business, I think I have
heard more of the news and the scandal of what, I suppose, would
be considered high life, than ever I did before; and Mr Donne's
proceedings seem to be an especial object of interest to him."

"And Mr Donne is engaged to a Miss Campbell, is he?"

"Was engaged; if I understood right, she broke off the engagement to
marry some Russian prince or other--a better match, Dick Bradshaw
told me. I assure you," continued Mr Farquhar, smiling, "I am a very
passive recipient of all such intelligence, and might very probably
have forgotten all about it, if the _Times_ of this morning had not
been so full of the disgrace of the young lady's father."

"Richard Bradshaw has quite left London, has he?" asked Mr Benson,
who felt far more interest in his old patron's family than in all the
Campbells that ever were or ever would be.

"Yes. He has come to settle down here. I hope he may do well, and not
disappoint his father, who has formed very high expectations from
him; I am not sure if they are not too high for any young man to
realise." Mr Farquhar could have said more, but Dick Bradshaw was
Jemima's brother, and an object of anxiety to her.

"I am sure, I trust such a mortification--such a grief as any
disappointment in Richard, may not befall his father," replied Mr
Benson.

"Jemima--Miss Bradshaw," said Mr Farquhar, hesitating, "was most
anxious to hear of you all. I hope I may tell her you are all well"
(with an emphasis on _all_); "that--"

"Thank you. Thank her for us. We are all well; all except Leonard,
who is not strong, as I said before. But we must be patient. Time,
and such devoted, tender love as he has from his mother, must do
much."

Mr Farquhar was silent.

"Send him to my house for the papers. It will be a little necessity
for him to have some regular exercise, and to face the world. He must
do it, sooner or later."

The two gentlemen shook hands with each other on parting; but no
further allusion was made to