h a language as to make her his best interpreter
of whatever was passing in the room.

"One could not help being sorry for Moy," said Miles, as he
concluded; "he turns out to be but half the villain after all, made
so rather by acquiescence than by his own free will."

"But reaping the profit," said Mrs. Poynsett.

"Yes, though in ignorance of the injury he was doing, and thus
climbing to a height that makes his fall the worse. I am sorry for
old Proudfoot too," added Julius. "I believe they have not ventured
to tell him of his granddaughter's marriage."

"I do not think the gain to me would be at all equal to the loss to
them," said Archie. "Exposure would be ruin and heartbreak there,
and I don't see what it would do for me."

"My dear Archie!" exclaimed both Mrs. Poynsett and Joanna, in
amazement.

"So long as you and Mr. Bowater are satisfied, I care for little
else," said Archie.

"But your position, my dear," said Mrs. Poynsett.

"We don't care much about a man's antecedents, within a few years,
out in the colonies, dear Aunt Julia," said Archie, smiling.

"You aren't going back?"

"That depends," said Archie, his eyes seeking Joanna's; "but I don't
see what there is for me to do here. I'm spoilt for a solicitor
anyway--"

"We could find an agency, Miles, couldn't we?--or a farm--"

"Thank you, dear aunt," said Archie; "I don't definitely answer,
because Mr. Bowater must be consulted; but I have a business out
there that I can do, and where I can make a competence that I can
fairly offer to Jenny here. If I came home, as I am now, I should
only prey on you in some polite form, and I don't think Jenny would
wish for that alternative. I must go back any way, as I have told
her, and whether to save for her, or to make a home for her there,
it must be for her to decide."

They looked at Jenny. She was evidently prepared; for though her
colour rose a little, her frank eyes looked at him with a confiding
smile.

"But we must have justice done to you, my dear boy, whether you stay
with us or not," said Mrs. Poynsett.

"That might have been done if I had not been fool enough to run
away," said Archie; "having done so, the mass of people will only
remember that there has been something against me, in spite of any
justification. It is not worth while to blast Moy's character, and
show poor old Proudfoot what a swindler his son was, just for that.
The old man was good to me. I should like to let