Yes, Mrs. Petherwin is my sister, as you supposed, sir; but on her
account I do not let it be known.'

'Indeed,' said Mountclere. 'Well, I came to see you in order to speak of
a matter which I thought you might know more about than I do, for it has
taken me quite by surprise. My brother, Lord Mountclere, is, it seems,
to be privately married to Mrs. Petherwin to-morrow.'

'Is that really the fact?' said Sol, becoming quite shaken. 'I had no
thought that such a thing could be possible!'

'It is imminent.'

'Father has told me that she has lately got to know some nobleman; but I
never supposed there could be any meaning in that.'

'You were altogether wrong,' said Mountclere, leaning back in his chair
and looking at Sol steadily. 'Do you feel it to be a matter upon which
you will congratulate her?'

'A very different thing!' said Sol vehemently. 'Though he is your
brother, sir, I must say this, that I would rather she married the
poorest man I know.'

'Why?'

'From what my father has told me of him, he is not--a more desirable
brother-in-law to me than I shall be in all likelihood to him. What
business has a man of that character to marry Berta, I should like to
ask?'

'That's what I say,' returned Mountclere, revealing his satisfaction at
Sol's estimate of his noble brother: it showed that he had calculated
well in coming here. 'My brother is getting old, and he has lived
strangely: your sister is a highly respectable young lady.'

'And he is not respectable, you mean? I know he is not. I worked near
Enckworth once.'

'I cannot say that,' returned Mountclere. Possibly a certain fraternal
feeling repressed a direct assent: and yet this was the only
representation which could be expected to prejudice the young man against
the wedding, if he were such an one as the visitor supposed Sol to be--a
man vulgar in sentiment and ambition, but pure in his anxiety for his
sister's happiness. 'At any rate, we are agreed in thinking that this
would be an unfortunate marriage for both,' added Mountclere.

'About both I don't know. It may be a good thing for him. When do you
say it is to be, sir--to-morrow?'

'Yes.'

'I don't know what to do!' said Sol, walking up and down. 'If half what
I have heard is true, I would lose a winter's work to prevent her
marrying him. What does she want to go mixing in with people who despise
her for? Now look here, Mr. Mountclere, since you have been and called
me out t