line,"
said Uncle Edward, with gentleness. "Not perhaps from your point of
view, my dear. But both he and I are greatly grieved and disappointed--"

"It was all arranged ages ago!" broke in the elder brother. "Fauquier
Cary and your dear father, my brother Henry, settled it when you were
born and Fauquier's son was a lad at Maury's school! When Henry died,
and Fauquier Cary died, my brother Edward here and I said to each other
that we would see the matter out! So we will, by God!"

"Gently, Dick! Jacqueline, child, you know how dear you are to us, and
how the future and the happiness of you and of Unity and of Deb is our
jealous care--"

"Fauquier Cary was as noble a man as ever breathed," cried the other,
"and his son's his image! There's no better blood in Virginia--and the
land beside--"

"It does not matter about the land, Jacqueline," said Uncle Edward,
"though God forbid that I should depreciate good land--"

"Land's land," quoth Colonel Dick, "and good blood's gospel truth!"

"Bah! it's nature's truth!" said Uncle Edward. "Jacqueline, my dear, our
hearts are set on this match. Mr. Ludwell Cary asked your uncle's
permission to speak to you, and your uncle gave it gladly, and neither
he nor I ever dreamed--"

"Of course we didn't," broke in the other. "We didn't dream that
Jacqueline could be unreasonable or ungrateful, and we don't dream it
now! Nor blind. Ludwell Cary's a man and a gentleman, and the woman who
gets him is lucky!"

"We approved his suit, Jacqueline, and we hoped to be happy to-day in
your happiness--"

"And in he comes at midnight last night, with his father's own look on
his face, and what does he say to Edward and me, sitting here, waiting,
with a thousand fancies in our heads? 'Miss Churchill will not have me,'
says he, 'and you who have been so good to me, are to be good still, and
not by word or look reproach her or distress her. The heart goes its own
way, and loves where it must. She is an angel, and to-night I am a poor
beaten and weary mortal. I thank you again, both of you, and wish you
good-night.' And off he goes before a man could say Jack Robinson! Those
were his very words, weren't they, Edward?"

"Yes," answered Edward. "He is a brave and gallant gentleman,
Jacqueline. I love you, child, more than my old tongue can say. My
Castle in Spain is Greenwood with you and Ludwell Cary and the children
of you both."

"Oh, cruel!" cried Jacqueline. "He is brave and good--He is