report the result of his negotiation with
the count. His mother's letter with the news had come to him in the
morning, and on the same evening he called on Lady Ongar. She also had
then received Mrs. Clavering's letter, and knew what had occurred at the
park. Harry found her alone, having asked the servant whether Madam
Gordeloup was with his mistress. Had such been the case he would have
gone away, and left his message untold.

As he entered the room his mind was naturally full of the tidings from
Clavering. Count Pateroff and his message had lost some of their
importance through this other event, and the emptiness of the childless
house was the first subject of conversation between him and Lady Ongar.
"I pity my sister greatly," said she. "I feel for her as deeply as I
should have done had nothing occurred to separate us--but I cannot feel
for him."

"I do," said Harry.

"He is your cousin, and perhaps has been your friend?"

"No, not especially. He and I have never pulled well together; but still
I pity him deeply."

"He is not my cousin, but I know him better than you do, Harry. He will
not feel much himself, and his sorrow will be for his heir, not for his
son. He is a man whose happiness does not depend on the life or death of
any one. He likes some people, as he once liked me; but I do not think
that he ever loved any human being. He will get over it, and he will
simply wish that Hermy may die, that he may marry another wife. Harry, I
know him so well!"

"Archie will marry now," said Harry.

"Yes; if he can get any one to have him. There are very few men who
can't get wives, but I can fancy Archie Clavering to be one of them. He
has not humility enough to ask the sort of girl who would be glad to
take him. Now, with his improved prospects, he will want a royal
princess or something not much short of it. Money, rank, and blood might
have done before, but he'll expect youth, beauty, and wit now, as well
as the other things. He may marry after all, for he is just the man to
walk out of a church some day with the cookmaid under his arm as his
wife."

"Perhaps he may find something between a princess and a cookmaid."

"I hope, for your sake, he may not--neither a princess nor a cookmaid,
nor anything between."

"He has my leave to marry to-morrow, Lady Ongar. If I had my wish, Hugh
should have his house full of children."

"Of course that is the proper thing to say, Harry."

"I won't stand that from yo