money would not consent to marry the aristocratic pauper except on
condition that she should be received at Matching, the Duchess at
once gave the invitation. And now, though she couldn't go into the
"fal-lallery,"--as she called it, to Madame Goesler,--of settling
a meeting between two young people who had fallen out, she worked
hard till she accomplished something perhaps more important to their
future happiness. "Plantagenet," she said, "there can be no objection
to your cousin having that money."

"My dear!"

"Oh come; you must remember about Adelaide, and that young man who is
coming here to-day."

"You told me that Adelaide is to be married. I don't know anything
about the young man."

"His name is Maule, and he is a gentleman, and all that. Some day
when his father dies he'll have a small property somewhere."

"I hope he has a profession."

"No, he has not. I told you all that before."

"If he has nothing at all, Glencora, why did he ask a young lady to
marry him?"

"Oh, dear; what's the good of going into all that? He has got
something. They'll do immensely well, if you'll only listen. She is
your first cousin."

"Of course she is," said Plantagenet, lifting up his hand to his
hair.

"And you are bound to do something for her."

"No; I am not bound. But I'm very willing,--if you wish it. Put the
thing on a right footing."

"I hate footings,--that is, right footings. We can manage this
without taking money out of your pocket."

"My dear Glencora, if I am to give my cousin money I shall do so by
putting my hand into my own pocket in preference to that of any other
person."

"Madame Goesler says that she'll sign all the papers about the Duke's
legacy,--the money, I mean,--if she may be allowed to make it over to
the Duke's niece."

"Of course Madame Goesler may do what she likes with her own. I
cannot hinder her. But I would rather that you should not interfere.
Twenty-five thousand pounds is a very serious sum of money."

"You won't take it."

"Certainly not."

"Nor will Madame Goesler; and therefore there can be no reason why
these young people should not have it. Of course Adelaide being the
Duke's niece does make a difference. Why else should I care about it?
She is nothing to me,--and as for him, I shouldn't know him again if
I were to meet him in the street."

And so the thing was settled. The Duke was powerless against the
energy of his wife, and the lawyer was instructed that M