t tell the truth. But then the question asked was one which a man
is hardly bound to answer, even to a brother. Jack Neville was much less
likely to talk about his love affairs than Fred, but not on that account
less likely to think about them. Sophie Mellerby had refused him once,
but young ladies have been known to marry gentlemen after refusing them
more than once. He at any rate was determined to persevere, having in
himself and in his affairs that silent faith of which the possessor is
so often unconscious, but which so generally leads to success. He found
Miss Mellerby to be very courteous to him if not gracious; and he had
the advantage of not being afraid of her. It did not strike him that
because she was the granddaughter of a duke, and because he was a
younger son, that therefore he ought not to dare to look at her. He
understood very well that she was brought there that Fred might marry
her;--but Fred was intent on marrying some one else, and Sophie Mellerby
was not a girl to throw her heart away upon a man who did not want
it. He had come to Scroope for only three days, but, in spite of some
watchfulness on the part of the Countess, he found his opportunity for
speaking before he left the house. "Miss Mellerby," he said, "I don't
know whether I ought to thank Fortune or to upbraid her for having again
brought me face to face with you."

"I hope the evil is not so oppressive as to make you very loud in your
upbraidings."

"They shall not at any rate be heard. I don't know whether there was any
spice of malice about my brother when he asked me to come here, and told
me in the same letter that you were at Scroope."

"He must have meant it for malice, I should think," said the young lady,
endeavouring, but not quite successfully, to imitate the manner of the
man who loved her.

"Of course I came."

"Not on my behalf, I hope, Mr. Neville."

"Altogether on your behalf. Fred's need to see me was not very great,
and, as my uncle had not asked me, and as my aunt, I fancy, does not
altogether approve of me, I certainly should not have come,--were it not
that I might find it difficult to get any other opportunity of seeing
you."

"That is hardly fair to Lady Scroope, Mr. Neville."

"Quite fair, I think. I did not come clandestinely. I am not ashamed
of what I am doing,--or of what I am going to do. I may be ashamed of
this,--that I should feel my chance of success to be so small. When I
was here before I aske