have no particular business with me, Frank, you had better ask
herself: of course, if you want me, I am at your service--but
otherwise I am busy, you see."

"And so am I," said Mr Wentworth, "as busy as a man can be whose
character is at stake. Do you know I am to be tried to-morrow? But
that is not what I came to ask you about."

"I wish you would _tell_ me about it," said Miss Leonora. She got up
from her writing-table and from the missionary's letter, and abandoned
herself to the impulses of nature. "I have heard disagreeable rumours.
I don't object to your reserve, Frank, but things seem to be getting
serious. What does it mean?"

The Curate had been much braced in his inner man by his short
interview with John Brown; that, and the representative position he
held, had made a wonderful change in his feelings: besides, a matter
which was about to become so public could not be ignored. "It means
only that a good many people in Carlingford think me a villain," said
Mr Wentworth: "it is not a flattering idea; and it seems to me, I
must say, an illogical induction from the facts of my life. Still it
is true that some people think so--and I am to be tried to-morrow. But
in the mean time, something else has happened. I know you are a good
woman, aunt Leonora. We don't agree in many things, but that does not
matter. There are two ladies in Carlingford who up to this day have
been rich, well off, well cared for, and who have suddenly lost all
their means, their protector, even their home. They have no relations
that I know of. One of them is good for any exertion that may be
necessary," said the Curate, his voice softening with a far-off
masculine suggestion as of tears; "but she is young--too young to
contend with the world--and she is now suffering her first grief. The
other is old enough, but not good for much--"

"You mean the two Miss Wodehouses?" said Miss Leonora. "Their father
has turned out to be--bankrupt?--or something?--"

"Worse than bankrupt," said the Curate: "there is a brother who takes
everything. Will you stand by them--offer them shelter?--I mean for a
time. I don't know anybody I should care to apply to but you."

Miss Leonora paused and looked at her nephew. "First tell me what you
have to do with them," she asked. "If there is a brother, he is their
natural protector--certainly not you--unless there is something I
don't know of. Frank, you know you can't marry," said Miss Leonora,
with a little