paying all my bills, for the report of my being in difficulty has
brought them in fast enough; and I find that in these last five months
my wife has spent a whole year's income; so it was quite time to stop."

"I agree with you, sir; but what does Mrs Turnbull say now--has she
come to her senses?"

"Pretty well, I expect, although she does not quite choose to
acknowledge it. I have told her that she must dispense with a carriage
in future; and so she shall, till I think she deserves it. She knows
that she must either have _my company_ in the house, or none at all.
She knows that the Peters of Petercumb Hall have cut her, for they did
not answer a note of hers, sent by the gardener; and Mr Smith has
written a very violent answer to another of her notes, wondering at her
attempting to push herself into the company of the aristocracy. But
what has brought her to her senses more than all is the affair of
Monsieur Tagliabue. The magistrate, at my request, gave me the note of
Lord Scrope, and I have taken good care that she could read the police
report as well; but the fact is, she is so much mortified that I say
nothing to her. She has been following the advice of these French
swindlers, who have led her wrong, to be able to cheat her of her money.
I expect she will ask me to sell this place, and go elsewhere; but at
present we hardly exchange a word during the whole day."

"I feel very sorry for her, sir; for I really believe her to be a very
good kind-hearted person."

"That's like you, Jacob--and so she is. At present she is in a state to
be pitied. She would throw a share of the blame upon other people, and
cannot--she feels it is all herself. All her bubbles of grandeur have
burst, and she finds herself not half so respectable as she was before
her vanity induced her to cut her former acquaintance, and try to get
into the society of those who laughed at her, and at the same time were
not half so creditable. But it's that cursed money which has proved her
unhappiness--and, I may add, mine."

"Well, sir, I see no chance of its ever adding to my misfortunes, at all
events."

"Perhaps not, Jacob, even if you ever should get any; but, at all
events, you may take a little to-morrow, if you please. I cannot ask
you to dine here; it would not be pleasant to you, and show a want of
feeling to my wife; but I should like you to come up with the wherry
to-morrow, and we'll take a cruise."

"Very well, I shall be