Connie knew it, often as he had
denied it to her. And he was more convinced than Otto himself--though
never by word or manner had he ever admitted it for a moment--that the
boy was doomed--not immediately, but after one of those pitiful
struggles which have their lulls and pauses, but tend all the same
inevitably to one end.

"And as long as he lives, I shall look after him," he thought, feeling
that strange compulsion on him again, and yielding to it with mingled
eagerness and despair.

For how could he saddle Connie's life with such a charge--or darken it
with such a tragedy?

Impossible! But that was only one of many reasons why he should not take
advantage of her through their common pity for Otto. In his own eyes he
was a ruined man, and having resolutely refused to live upon his
mother, his pride was little more inclined to live upon a wife, common,
and generally applauded, though the practice might be. About five
thousand pounds had been saved for himself out of the wreck; of which he
would certainly spend a thousand, before all was done, on the Orpheus.
The rest would just suffice to launch him as a barrister. His mother
would provide for the younger children. Her best jewels indeed had been
already sold and invested as a dowry for Nelly, who showed signs of
engaging herself to a Scotch laird. But Falloden was joint guardian of
Trix and Roger, and must keep a watchful eye on them, now that his
mother's soft incompetence had been more plainly revealed than ever by
her widow-hood. He chafed under the duties imposed, and yet fulfilled
them--anxiously and well--to the amazement of his relations.

In addition he had his way to make in the world.

But Constance had only to be a little more seen and known in English
society to make the most brilliant match that any scheming chaperon
could desire, Falloden was aware through every pulse of her fast
developing beauty. And although no great heiress, as heiresses now go,
she would ultimately inherit a large amount of scattered money, in
addition to what she already possessed. The Langmoors would certainly
have her out of Oxford at the earliest possible moment--and small
blame to them.

In all this he reasoned as a man of his class and antecedents was likely
to reason--only with a bias against himself. To capture Connie, through
Otto, before she had had any other chances of marriage, seemed to him a
mean and dishonorable thing.

If he had only time--time to make his