iss Dunstable--not altogether in vain, for
Miss Dunstable and Mrs. Harold Smith were certainly very intimate.

"If I am to do it at all, I must not wait any longer," said Mr.
Sowerby to his sister a day or two after the final breakdown of the
gods. The affection of the sister for the brother may be imagined
from the fact that at such a time she could give up her mind to
such a subject. But, in truth, her husband's position as a Cabinet
minister was as nothing to her compared with her brother's position
as a county gentleman. "One time is as good as another," said Mrs.
Harold Smith.

"You mean that you would advise me to ask her at once."

"Certainly. But you must remember, Nat, that you will have no easy
task. It will not do for you to kneel down and swear that you love
her."

"If I do it at all, I shall certainly do it without kneeling--you may
be sure of that, Harriet."

"Yes, and without swearing that you love her. There is only one way
in which you can be successful with Miss Dunstable--you must tell her
the truth."

"What! tell her that I am ruined, horse, foot, and dragoons, and then
bid her help me out of the mire?"

"Exactly: that will be your only chance, strange as it may appear."

"This is very different from what you used to say, down at
Chaldicotes."

"So it is; but I know her much better than I did when we were there.
Since then I have done but little else than study the freaks of her
character. If she really likes you--and I think she does--she could
forgive you any other crime but that of swearing that you loved her."

"I should hardly know how to propose without saying something about
it."

"But you must say nothing--not a word; you must tell her that you are
a gentleman of good blood and high station, but sadly out at elbows."

"She knows that already."

"Of course she does; but she must know it as coming directly from
your own mouth. And then tell her that you propose to set yourself
right by marrying her--by marrying her for the sake of her money."

"That will hardly win her, I should say."

"If it does not, no other way, that I know of, will do so. As I told
you before, it will be no easy task. Of course you must make her
understand that her happiness shall be cared for; but that must not
be put prominently forward as your object. Your first object is her
money, and your only chance for success is in telling the truth."

"It is very seldom that a man finds himself in such a posi