or
was the mysterious stranger a disguised Jesuit, and the whole business
some terrible Papist conspiracy? Jack, who had been so much abroad,
and Gerald, who was going over to Rome, and Frank, who was in trouble
of every description, got entangled together in Miss Dora's disturbed
imagination. No reality could be so frightful as the fancies with
which she distracted herself after that peep from the summer-house;
and it would be impossible to describe the indignation of Collins, who
knew that her mistress would kill herself some day, and was aware that
she, in her own person, would get little rest that night.

CHAPTER XXX.

"I don't know what is the exact connection between tea and
reformation," said Jack Wentworth, with a wonderful yawn. "When I
consider that this is all on account of that stupid beast Wodehouse, I
feel disposed to eat him. By the way, they have got a capital cook; I
did not think such a _cuisine_ was the sort of thing to be found in
the bosom of one's family, which has meant boiled mutton up to this
moment, to my uninstructed imagination. But the old ladies are in a
state of excitement which, I presume, is unusual to them. It appears
you have been getting into scrapes like other people, though you are
a parson. As your elder brother, my dear Frank--"

"Look here," said the Perpetual Curate; "you want to ask about
Wodehouse. I will answer your questions, since you seem to have some
interest in him; but I don't speak of my private affairs to any but my
intimate friends," said Mr Wentworth, who was not in a humour to be
trifled with.

The elder brother shrugged his shoulders. "It is curious to remark the
progress of the younger members of one's family," he said,
reflectively. "When you were a little boy, you took your drubbings
dutifully; but never mind, we've another subject in hand. I take an
interest in Wodehouse, and so do you--I can't tell for what reason.
Perhaps he is one of the intimate friends with whom you discuss your
private affairs? but that is a matter quite apart from the subject.
The thing is that he has to be taken care of--not for his own sake, as
I don't need to explain to you," said Jack. "I hear the old fellow
died today, which was the best thing he could have done, upon the
whole. Perhaps you can tell me how much he had, and how he has left
it? We may have to take different sides, and the fellow himself is a
snob; but I should like to understand exactly the state of aff