take the agency when he might have
had it, and I am not going to let them live upon me now that they have
nothing of their own.'

'Oh, papa, but you almost promised!'

'Almost!' he repeated with his ironical tone; 'that's a word capable of
a good deal of stretching. This is what you and that umbrella fellow
have made out of my not giving him a direct refusal on the spot. He
may meddle with Mark's affairs if he chooses, but not with mine.'

Nuttie had learnt a certain amount of wisdom, and knew that to argue a
point only made her father more determined, so she merely answered,
'Very well;' adding in a meek voice, 'Their furniture, poor things!'

'Oh ay. Their umbrella friend is making a collection for them. Yes, I
believe I said I would contribute.'

Hot blood surged up within Nuttie at the contemptuous tone, and she bit
her lip to keep down the answer, for she knew Mr. Dutton intended to
call the next afternoon for her father's ultimatum before going down to
Micklethwayte, where the crisis was fast approaching, and she had so
much faith in his powers that she dreaded to forestall him by an
imprudent word. Alas, Gregorio must have been on his guard, for,
though Nuttie was sure she heard her friend's ring at the usual time,
no entrance followed. She went up to put on her habit to ride with her
father, and when she came down Mr. Egremont held out a card with the
name 'Philip Dutton,' and the pencilled request below to be allowed to
see Mr. Egremont later in the day.

'He has been denied!' exclaimed she in consternation.

'Hein! Before we go out, sit down and write a note for me.' And he
dictated--

'Dear Sir--I will not trouble you to call again this
afternoon, as I have decided on reflection that there
is no employment on my estate suited to my nephew,
Mark Egremont.

'As I understand that you are raising a family
subscription for rescuing his furniture from the
creditors, I enclose a cheque for L50 for the purpose.

--I remain--'

'Yours--what--papa?--' asked Ursula, with a trembling voice, full of
tears.

'Yours, etc., of course. Quite intimate enough for an
ex-umbrella-monger. Here, give it to me, and I'll sign it while you
fill up the cheque for me.'

That such should be the first letter that Nuttie ever addressed to Mr.
Dutton, since the round-hand one in 'which Miss Ursula wished Mr. Duton
to have the onne