th a wildness of illustration so totally out of keeping with
the matter referred to, that Miss Wodehouse, in the midst of her
emotion, could scarcely restrain a scream of terror; "and you too
might be willing to do something; you cannot have any kind of feeling
for me," Lucy continued, recovering herself; "but you might perhaps
have some feeling for Mary. If we can be permitted to remain until her
marriage takes place, it may perhaps bring about--a feeling--more
like--relations; and I shall be able to--"

"Forgive you," Lucy was about to say, but fortunately stopped herself
in time; for it was the fact of his existence that she had to forgive,
and naturally such an amount of toleration was difficult to explain.
As for Wodehouse himself, he listened to this appeal with very mingled
feelings. Some natural admiration and liking woke in his dull mind as
Lucy spoke. He was not destitute of good impulses, nor of the ordinary
human affections. His little sister was pretty, and a lady, and clever
enough to put Jack Wentworth much more in the background than usual.
He said, "By Jove" to himself three or four times over in his beard,
and showed a little emotion when she said he could have no feeling for
her. At that point of Lucy's address he moved about uneasily in his
chair, and plucked at his beard, and felt himself anything but
comfortable. "By Jove! I never had a chance," the prodigal said, in
his undertone. "I might have cared a deal for her if I had had a
chance. She might have done a fellow good, by Jove!" mutterings of
which Lucy took no manner of notice, but proceeded with her speech.
When she had ended, and it became apparent that an answer was expected
of him, Wodehouse flushed all over with the embarrassment of the
position. He cleared his throat, he shifted his eyes, which were
embarrassed by Lucy's gaze, he pushed his chair from the table, and
made various attempts to collect himself, but at last ended by a
pitiful appeal to Jack Wentworth, who had been looking seriously on.
"You might come to a fellow's assistance!" cried Wodehouse. "By Jove!
it was for that you came here."

"The Miss Wodehouses evidently prefer to communicate with their brother
direct," said Jack Wentworth, "which is a very natural sentiment. If I
interfere, it is simply because I have had the advantage of talking the
matter over, and understanding a little of what you mean. Miss
Wodehouse, your brother is not disposed to act the part of a domes