Cecily had nothing, that the vile question of money might never arise.
Herein, at all events, you will do me justice; I am no fortune-hunter.

"If you come to London, send a line and appoint a place of meeting. But
could not everything be done through lawyers? You must judge; but,
again I ask it, do not give Cecily more pain."

The listeners were smiling gravely. After a silence, the letter was
discussed, especially its second paragraph. Mallard was informed of the
note which Miriam had received.

"I shall go to-morrow," he said, "and 'transact my business.' On the
whole, it might as well be done through lawyers, but I had better be in
London."

"And then?" asked Eleanor.

"I shall perhaps go and spend a week with the people at Sowerby Bridge.
But you shall hear from me."

"Will you speak to Mrs. Baske?"

"I don't think it is necessary. She has expressed no wish that I
should?"

"No; but she might like to be assured that her brother won't be
prosecuted for perjury."

"Oh, set her mind at ease!"

"Show Mallard the letter from Mrs. Lessingham," said Spence, with a
twinkle of the eyes.

"I will read it to him."

She did so. And the letter ran thus:

"Still no news? I am uneasy, though there can be no rational doubt as
to what form the news will take when it comes. The material interests
in question are enough to relieve us from anxiety. But I wish they
would be quick and communicate with us.

"One reconciles one's self to the inevitable, and, for my own part, the
result of my own reflections is that I am something more than
acquiescent. After all, granted that these two must make choice of each
other, was it not in the fitness of things that they should act as they
have done? For us comfortable folk, life is too humdrum; ought we not
to be grateful to those who supply us with a strong emotion, and who
remind us that there is yet poetry in the world? I should apologize for
addressing such thoughts to _you_, dear Eleanor, for you have still the
blessing of a young heart, and certainly do not lack poetry. I speak
for myself, and after all I am much disposed to praise these young
people for their unconventional behaviour.

"What if our darkest anticipations were fulfilled? Beyond all doubt
they are now sincerely devoted to each other, and will remain so for at
least twelve months. Those twelve months will be worth a life-time of
level satisfaction. We shall be poor creatures in comparison when we
utter ou