than once
with his uncle. He saw also the Messrs. Cropper, and was considerably
chilled by the manner in which they at first seemed to entertain the
proposition. Indeed, for a couple of hours he thought that the scheme
must be abandoned. It was pointed out to him that Mr. Barty Burgess's
life would probably be short, and that he--Barty--had but a small
part of the business at his disposal. But gradually a way to terms
was seen,--not quite so simple as that which Miss Stanbury had
suggested; and Brooke, when he left Exeter, did believe it possible
that he, after all, might become the family representative in the old
banking-house of the Burgesses.

"And how long will it take, Aunt Stanbury?" Dorothy asked.

"Don't you be impatient, my dear."

"I am not the least impatient; but of course I want to tell mamma and
Priscilla. It will be so nice to live here and not go up to London.
Are we to stay here,--in this very house?"

"Have you not found out yet that Brooke will be likely to have an
opinion of his own on such things?"

"But would you wish us to live here, aunt?"

"I hardly know, dear. I am a foolish old woman, and cannot say what I
would wish. I cannot bear to be alone."

"Of course we will stay with you."

"And yet I should be jealous if I were not mistress of my own house."

"Of course you will be mistress."

"I believe, Dolly, that it would be better that I should die. I have
come to feel that I can do more good by going out of the world than
by remaining in it." Dorothy hardly answered this in words, but sat
close by her aunt, holding the old woman's hand and caressing it, and
administering that love of which Miss Stanbury had enjoyed so little
during her life and which had become so necessary to her.

The news about the bank arrangements, though kept of course as a
great secret, soon became common in Exeter. It was known to be a good
thing for the firm in general that Barty Burgess should be removed
from his share of the management. He was old-fashioned, unpopular,
and very stubborn; and he and a certain Mr. Julius Cropper, who was
the leading man among the Croppers, had not always been comfortable
together. It was at first hinted that old Miss Stanbury had been
softened by sudden twinges of conscience, and that she had confessed
to some terrible crime in the way of forgery, perjury, or perhaps
worse, and had relieved herself at last by making full restitution.
But such a rumour as this did not las