nger--against them--out of the room with me."

"Now, about Mr. Juniper."

"The question is one much too big for me. Am I to tell my father?"

"I was thinking that--if you would do so!"

"I cannot tell him that he ought to find five hundred pounds for Mr.
Juniper."

"Perhaps four would do."

"Nor can I ask him to drive a bargain."

"How much would he give her--to be married?"

"Why should he give her anything? He feeds her and gives her clothes. It
is only fit that the truth should be explained to you. Girls so
circumstanced, when they are clothed and fed by their own fathers, must
be married without fortunes or must remain unmarried. As Sophie, and
Georgina, and Minna, and Brenda come up, the same requests will be
made."

"Poor Potsey!" said the mother. For Potsey was a plain girl.

"If this be done for Amelia, must it not be done for all of them? Papa
is not a rich man, but he has been very generous. Is it fair to ask him
for five hundred pounds to give to--Mr. Juniper?"

"A gentleman nowadays does not like not to get something."

"Then a gentleman must go where something is to be got. The truth has to
be told, Aunt Carroll. My father is willing enough to do what he can for
you and the girls, but I do not think that he will give five hundred
pounds to Mr. Juniper."

"It is once for all. Four hundred pounds, perhaps, would do."

"I do not think that he can make a bargain, nor that he will pay any sum
to Mr. Juniper."

"To get one of them off would be so much! What is to become of them? To
have one married would be the way for others. Oh, Dorothy, if you would
only think of my condition! I know your papa will do what you tell him."

Dolly felt that her father would be more likely to do it if she were
not to interfere at all; but she could not say that. She did feel the
request to be altogether unreasonable. She struggled to avert from her
own mind all feeling of dislike for the girl, and to look at it as she
might have done if Amelia had been her special friend.

"Aunt Carroll," she said, "you had better go up to London and see my
father there--in his chambers. You will catch him if you go at once."

"Alone?"

"Yes, alone. Tell him about the girl's marriage, and let him judge what
he ought to do."

"Could not you come with me?"

"No. You don't understand. I have to think of his money. He can say what
he will do with his own."

"He will never give it without coming to you."

"He never will if