gh, doubtless, there were many tears to be shed by
her,--she would shed no more before him in token of submission. If he
would first submit, then, indeed, she might weep on his shoulder or
laugh on his breast, as his mood might dictate.

"Margaret," he said, "we have very much to talk over before you can
go."

"There will be time for that between this and one. Look here, John; I
have made up my mind to go. After what took place yesterday, it will
be better for us all that we should be apart."

"I don't see that, unless, indeed, you are determined to quarrel
with us altogether. I suppose my wishes in the matter will count for
something."

"Yesterday morning they would have counted for everything; but not
this morning."

"And why not, Margaret?"

This was a question to which it was so difficult to find a reply,
that she left it unanswered. They both walked on in silence for some
paces, and then she spoke again.

"You said yesterday that you had been with Mr Slow, and that you had
something to tell me. If you still wish to tell me anything, perhaps
you can do so now."

"Everything seems to be so much changed," said he, speaking very
gloomily.

"Yes," said she; "things are changed. But my confidence in Mr Slow,
and in you, is not altered. If you like it, you can settle everything
about the money without consulting me. I shall agree to anything
about that."

"I was going to propose that your brother's family should have the
debt due by the Rubbs. Mr Slow thinks he might so manage as to secure
the payment of the interest."

"Very well; I shall be delighted that it should be so. I had hoped
that they would have had more, but that of course is all over. I
cannot give them what is not mine."

But this arrangement, which would have been pleasant enough
before,--which seemed to be very pleasant when John Ball was last
in Mr Slow's chambers, telling that gentleman that he was going to
make everything smooth by marrying his cousin,--was not by any means
so pleasant now. He had felt, when he was mentioning the proposed
arrangement to Margaret, that the very naming of it seemed to imply
that Mr Maguire and his visit were to go for nothing. If Mr Maguire
and his visit were to go for much--to go for all that which Lady Ball
wished to make of them--then, in such a case as that, the friendly
arrangement in question would not hold water. If that were to be so,
they must all go to work again, and Mr Slow must be told to do