e. But he had it all clear enough before he would allow
them to perceive that he understood. For although his brain made easy
work of it, his feelings demanded a pause. He was greatly surprised. He
had thought of no such a thing. What differences would it make?

Southend was well satisfied with the way in which his overture was
received. Lady Evenswood was watching intently.

"The idea is----" said Harry slowly--"I mean--I don't quite gather what
it is. You talk of my cousin, and then of a viscounty. The two go
together, do they?"

It was rather an awkward question put as bluntly as that.

"Well, that did seem to be Mr Disney's view," said Southend.

"He was thinking of the family--of the family as a whole. I'm sure you
think of that too," urged Lady Evenswood. There would never be a
Tristram who did not, she was thinking. Well, except Addie perhaps, who
really thought of nothing. "Of course as a thing purely personal to you
it might be just a little difficult." She meant, and intended Harry to
understand, that without the marriage the thing could not be done at
all. Mina had reported Mr Disney faithfully, and Lady Evenswood's
knowledge of her cousin Robert was not at fault. "Apart from anything
else, there would be the sordid question," she ended, with a smile that
became propitiatory against her will; she had meant it to be merely
confidential.

There was ground for hope; Harry hesitated--truth will out, even where
it impairs the grandeur of men. The suggestion had its attractions; it
touched the spring of the picturesque in him which Blinkhampton had left
rusting in idleness. It suggested something in regard to Cecily
too--what it was, he did not reason out very clearly at the moment.
Anyhow what was proposed would create a new situation and put him in a
different position toward her. In brief, he would have something more on
his side.

"Once he was sure the proposal was agreeable to you----" murmured Lady
Evenswood gently. She was still very tentative about the matter, and
still watchful of Harry.

But Southend was not cautious or did not read his man so well. To him
the battle seemed to be won. He was assured in his manner and decidedly
triumphant as he said:

"It's a great thing to have screwed Disney up to the viscounty. It does
away with all difficulty about the name, you see."

Harry looked up sharply. Had Mr Disney been "screwed up?" Who had
screwed him up?--by what warrant?--on whose commission? T