roperty which he has lost.

"Dear, dearest Clary," said Mary Bonner, pressing her cousin's arm.

They had now reached Mrs. Brownlow's house, and the old lady was
delighted to receive them. Of course she began to discuss at once the
great news. Sir Thomas had had his arm broken, and was now again a
member of Parliament. Mrs. Brownlow was a thorough-going Tory, and
was in an ecstasy of delight that her old friend should have been
successful. The success seemed to be so much the greater in that the
hero had suffered a broken bone. And then there were many questions
to be asked? Would Sir Thomas again be Solicitor-General by right
of his seat in Parliament?--for on such matters Mrs. Brownlow was
rather hazy in her conceptions as to the working of the British
Constitution. And would he live at home? Clarissa would not say that
she and Patience expected such a result. All that she could suggest
of comfort on this matter was that there would be now something of
a fair cause for excusing their father's residence at his London
chambers.

But there was a subject more enticing to the old lady even than
Sir Thomas's triumphs; a subject as to which there could not be
any triumph,--only dismay; but not, on that account, the less
interesting. Ralph Newton had sold his inheritance. "I believe it is
all settled," said Clarissa, demurely.

"Dear, dear, dear, dear!" groaned the old lady. And while she groaned
Clarissa furtively cast a smile upon her cousin. "It is the saddest
thing I ever knew," said Mrs. Brownlow. "And, after all, for a young
man who never can be anybody, you know."

"Oh yes," said Clarissa, "he can be somebody."

"You know what I mean, my dear. I think it very shocking, and very
wrong. Such a fine estate, too!"

"We all like Mr. Newton very much indeed," said Clarissa. "Papa
thinks he is a most charming young man. I never knew papa taken with
any one so much. And so do we all,--Patience and I,--and Mary."

"But, my dear," began Mrs. Brownlow,--Mrs. Brownlow had always
thought that Ralph the heir would ultimately marry Clarissa
Underwood, and that it was a manifest duty on his part to do so. She
had fancied that Clarissa had expected it herself, and had believed
that all the Underwoods would be broken-hearted at this transfer
of the estate. "I don't think it can be right," said Mrs. Brownlow;
"and I must say that it seems to me that old Mr. Newton ought to be
ashamed of himself. Just because this young man happ