ht add to Mark's misery.

"And then the dining-room," said Jemima cook, in a tone almost of
elation.

"Yes; if they please."

"And then master's book-room here; or perhaps the bedrooms, if you
and master be still here."

"Any way they please, cook; it does not much signify," said Mrs.
Robarts. But for some days after that Jemima was by no means a
favourite with her.

The cook was hardly out of the room before a quick footstep was heard
on the gravel before the window, and the hall door was immediately
opened.

"Where is your master?" said the well-known voice of Lord Lufton; and
then in half a minute he also was in the book-room.

"Mark, my dear fellow, what's all this?" said he, in a cheery tone
and with a pleasant face. "Did not you know that I was here? I came
down yesterday; landed from Hamburg only yesterday morning. How do
you do, Mrs. Robarts? This is a terrible bore, isn't it?" Robarts,
at the first moment, hardly knew how to speak to his old friend. He
was struck dumb by the disgrace of his position; the more so as his
misfortune was one which it was partly in the power of Lord Lufton to
remedy. He had never yet borrowed money since he had filled a man's
position, but he had had words about money with the young peer, in
which he knew that his friend had wronged him; and for this double
reason he was now speechless.

"Mr. Sowerby has betrayed him," said Mrs. Robarts, wiping the tears
from her eyes. Hitherto she had said no word against Sowerby, but now
it was necessary to defend her husband.

"No doubt about it. I believe he has always betrayed every one who
has ever trusted him. I told you what he was, some time since; did I
not? But, Mark, why on earth have you let it go so far as this? Would
not Forrest help you?"

"Mr. Forrest wanted him to sign more bills, and he would not do
that," said Mrs. Robarts, sobbing.

"Bills are like dram-drinking," said the discreet young lord: "when
one once begins, it is very hard to leave off. Is it true that the
men are here now, Mark?"

"Yes, they are in the next room."

"What, in the drawing-room?"

"They are making out a list of the things," said Mrs Robarts.

"We must stop that at any rate," said his lordship, walking off
towards the scene of the operations; and as he left the room Mrs.
Robarts followed him, leaving her husband by himself.

"Why did you not send down to my mother?" said he, speaking hardly
above a whisper, as they stood together in