Men knew that he had fallen into great trouble in
the matter of his inheritance, and did not expect him to be joyful
and of pleasant countenance. "By George!" said little Captain Boodle,
"if it was my governor, I'd go very near being hung for him; I would,
by George!" Which remark obtained a good deal of general sympathy in
the billiard-room of that military club. In the meantime Mary Lowther
at Loring had resolved that she would not be lugubrious, and she sat
down to dinner opposite to her aunt with a pleasant smile on her
face. Before the evening was over, however, she had in some degree
broken down. "I fear I can't get along with novels, Aunt Sarah," she
said. "Don't you think I could find something to do." Then the old
lady came round the room and kissed her niece;--but she made no other
reply.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

BULLHAMPTON NEWS.

When the matter was quite settled at Loring,--when Miss Marrable not
only knew that the engagement had been surrendered on both sides, but
that it had been so surrendered as to be incapable of being again
patched up, she bethought herself of her promise to Mr. Gilmore.
This did not take place for a fortnight after the farewell which
was spoken in the last chapter,--at which time Walter Marrable was
staying with his uncle, Sir Gregory, at Dunripple. Miss Marrable
had undertaken that Mr. Gilmore should be informed as soon as the
engagement was brought to an end, and had been told that this
information should reach him through Mrs. Fenwick. When a fortnight
had passed, Miss Marrable was aware that Mary had not herself written
to her friend at Bullhampton; and though she felt herself to be shy
of the subject, though she entertained a repugnance to make any
communication based on a hope that Mary might after a while receive
her old lover graciously,--for time must of course be needed before
such grace could be accorded,--she did write a few lines to Mrs.
Fenwick. She explained that Captain Marrable was to return to India,
and that he was to go as a free man. Mary, she said, bore her burden
well. Of course, it must be some time before the remembrance of her
cousin would cease to be a burden to her; but she went about her
heavy task with a good will,--so said Miss Marrable,--and would no
doubt conquer her own unhappiness after a time by the strength of her
personal character. Not a word was spoken of Mr. Gilmore, but Mrs.
Fenwick understood it all. The letter, she knew well, was a mes