peak, and at last it was Ursula who crossed over so that her face
could not be seen, and said in an odd tone--

'Mr. Dutton--'

'Yes,' and he turned, instantly on the alert.

'Did you mean it--what I thought you meant that evening?'

'Can you doubt it?' he said earnestly. 'But even then I was surprised
into the avowal, and I would have held it back if possible, if I had
guessed what was going to happen.'

'Ah! but then I should not have had that drop of comfort through it
all,' and she laid hold of his hand, which returned the pressure
strongly, but he sedulously guarded both words and tone as he said:

'Listen, Ursula, before you speak again. How dear you must always be
to me, I cannot tell you, but when I then spoke, it was with the sense
that on every account, I should meet with strong opposition from your
father and family. And now your position is altered, so that the
unsuitability is doubled. I am not a young man, remember, and my
thoughts must be for you above all, I want you to consider whether, in
the present state of affairs, you would not do better to look on what
then passed as unsaid, or only as the ebullition of gratitude towards
your old friend. Let me go abroad, and give you full opportunity
for--for some fresh beginning likely to be fitter for you--'

'Mr. Dutton, how can you say such horrid things? As if a dukedom would
make any difference.'

'Yes,' he said, turning towards her. 'If it is only the old-friend
feeling, then it is better dropped, but if your heart is in it, child,
then we go on, come what may. It is due to you.'

She raised her face towards him now, and he gave a grave kiss to her
forehead. She drew a long breath, and said after a little pause, 'And
now I have something to say. One does think of such things even in
these sad times, and you can help me. I am so glad it is you, because
I know you will, and be rejoiced to do so. You know when Mark found us
out first, dear mother and I always felt that it was a great pity he
should not have the estate he had been brought up to expect. I believe
dear mother thought it would have been the right thing for me to marry
him, but I always did mean to give it back to him, even when I didn't
like him. Well, then, you know it all seemed settled otherwise, but
now, it is so lucky you spoke to me while that dear little fellow was
with us, because now you will help me to persuade my father that it is
the only satisfactory thing to