r's
auspices. And if the business on which Captain Clavering was now intent
could be brought to a successful issue, the standing in the world of
that young man would be very much altered. Then he would be a brother of
whom Sir Hugh might be proud--a brother who would pay his way, and
settle his points at whist if he lost them, even to a brother. If Archie
could induce Lady Ongar to marry him, he would not be called upon any
longer to ring the bells and look after the stable. He would have bells
of his own, and stables, too, and perhaps some captain of his own to
ring them and look after them. The expulsion, therefore, was not to take
place till Archie should have made his attempt upon Lady Ongar.

But Sir Hugh would admit of no delay, whereas Archie himself seemed to
think that the iron was not yet quite hot enough for striking. It would
be better, he had suggested, to postpone the work till Julia could be
coaxed down to Clavering in the Autumn. He could do the work better, he
thought; down at Clavering than in London. But Sir Hugh was altogether
of a different opinion. Though he had already asked his sister-in-law to
Clavering, when the idea had first come up, he was glad that she had
declined the visit. Her coming might be very well, if she accepted
Archie; but he did not want to be troubled with any renewal of his
responsibility respecting her, if, as was more probable, she should
reject him. The world still looked askance at Lady Ongar, and Hugh did
not wish to take up the armor of a paladin in her favor. If Archie
married her, Archie would be the paladin; though, indeed, in that case,
no paladin would be needed.

"She has only been a widow, you know, four months," said Archie,
pleading for delay. "It won't be delicate, will it?"

"Delicate!" said Sir Hugh. "I don't know whether there is much of
delicacy in it at all."

"I don't see why she isn't to be treated like any other woman. If you
were to die, you'd think it very odd if any fellow came up to Hermy
before the season was over.

"Archie, you are a fool," said Sir Hugh; and Archie could see, by his
brother's brow, that Hugh was angry. "You say things that, for folly and
absurdity, are beyond belief. If you can't see the peculiarities of
Julia's position, I am not going to point them out to you."

"She is peculiar, of course--having so much money, and that place near
Guilford, all her own for her life. Of course it's peculiar. But four
months, Hugh!"

"I