too strong-willed to own that he had been in any way wrong, and when
early in the following week he started for St. Cuthbert's, he was able
to speak with cheerful hope of his new prospects. If ultimately he
should find life in Stratton to be unendurable, he would cut that part
of his career short, and contrive to get up to London at an earlier time
than he had intended.

On the 31st of August Lord Ongar and Sir Hugh Clavering reached
Clavering Park, and, as has been already told, a pretty little note was
at once sent up to Miss Brabazon in her bedroom. When she met Lord Ongar
in the drawing-room, about an hour afterwards, she had instructed
herself that it would be best to say nothing of the note; but she could
not refrain from a word. "I am much obliged, my lord, by your kindness
and generosity," she said, as she gave him her hand. He merely bowed and
smiled, and muttered something as to his hoping that he might always
find it as easy to gratify her. He was a little man, on whose behalf it
certainly appeared that the Peerage must have told a falsehood; it
seemed so at least to those who judged of his years from his appearance.
The Peerage said that he was thirty-six, and that, no doubt, was in
truth his age, but any one would have declared him to be ten years
older. This look was produced chiefly by the effect of an elaborately
dressed jet black wig which he wore. What misfortune had made him bald
so early--if to be bald early in life be a misfortune--I cannot say; but
he had lost the hair from the crown of his head, and had preferred
wiggery to baldness. No doubt an effort was made to hide the wiggishness
of his wigs, but what effect in that direction was ever made
successfully? He was, moreover, weak, thin, and physically poor, and
had, no doubt, increased this weakness and poorness by hard living.
Though others thought him old, time had gone swiftly with him, and he
still thought himself a young man. He hunted, though he could not ride.
He shot, though he could not walk. And, unfortunately, he drank, though
he had no capacity for drinking! His friends at last had taught him to
believe that his only chance of saving himself lay in marriage, and
therefore he had engaged himself to Julia Brabazon, purchasing her at
the price of a brilliant settlement. If Lord Ongar should die before
her, Ongar Park was to be hers for life, with thousands a year to
maintain it. Courton Castle, the great family seat, would of course go
t