. Upon my soul,
Brooke, it seems to me that you are hard upon your daughter!"

"Do you think I need to be taught my duty by you, young man?" said
Caspar. He spoke with a smile, but his tone was undoubtedly sharp. His
disciple was not so submissive as he had hitherto appeared to be.

"Yes, I do," said Maurice, undismayed. "Because I appreciate her and
understand her, which you don't. I was dense at first as you are, but I
have learnt better now--through loving her."

"Through _what_, man?"

"Through loving her. It's the truth, Brooke, as I stand here. I've known
it for some little time. It is only because it may seem too sudden to
her and to you that I haven't spoken before, and I did not mean to do so
when I came here this afternoon. But the fact remains, I love Lesley,
and I want her to be my wife."

"Heavens and earth!" said Caspar. "Is the man gone mad!"

CHAPTER XX.

LESLEY'S LETTER.

"Not a bit of it," said Maurice sturdily. "I speak the words of truth
and soberness. I've thought about it for some time."

"A week?"

"I'm in earnest, Brooke. Do you consent?"

"My good man," said Caspar, slowly, "you forget that I am probably the
last person in the world whose consent is of any value."

"Pooh!"

"You may say 'pooh' as much as you like, but the fact remains. When
Lesley leaves me, say next August or September, she goes to her mother
and her grandfather, who's an earl, more's the pity. They have the
guardianship, you understand."

"But you have it legally still."

"Hum--no: we had a formal separation. I named the terms, certainly: I
was angry at the time, and was inclined to say that if I might not bring
up the child in my own way, neither should its mother. That was why we
compromised by sending her to school--but it was to be a school of Lady
Alice's choice. The year with me afterwards was a suggestion of mine, of
course. But I can't alter what was agreed on then."

"Naturally. But----"

"And as to money affairs," said Caspar, ruthlessly cutting him short, "I
have been put all along into the most painful and ridiculous position
that a man can well be in. I offered to settle a certain income on my
wife and daughter: Lady Alice and her father refused to accept any money
from me. I have paid various sums into his bank for Lesley, but I have
reason to believe that they have never touched a farthing of it. You see
they've put me at a disadvantage all round. And what is to be done when
she ma