ld have made a bargain with her father. "If you won't
give us L120,000 let us begin with L60,000." But even this she feared
would not altogether be agreeable to Frank. Let her think of it
how she would, that plan of being run away with seemed alone to be
feasible--and not altogether disagreeable.

It was necessary that she should answer her lover's letter. No
embargo had as yet been put upon her correspondence, and therefore
she could send her reply without external difficulty.

"Dear Frank," she said,

I quite agree with you about Christmas. It ought to be
settled. But I have very bad news to send to you. I have
been to papa as you told me, but he was very unkind.
Nothing could be worse. He said that you ought to earn
your bread, which is, of course, all humbug. He didn't
understand that there ought to be some gentlemen who never
earn their bread. I am sure, if you had been earning your
bread by going to Lombard Street every day, I shouldn't
have ever cared for you.

He says that he will not give a single shilling. I think
he is angry because Augusta's husband will come and live
here always. That is disgusting, of course. But it isn't
my fault. It is either that, or else some money has gone
wrong;--or perhaps he had a very bad fit of indigestion.
He was, however, so savage, that I really do not know how
to go to him again. Mamma is quite afraid of him, and does
not dare say a word, because it was she who managed about
Mr. Traffick.

What ought to be done? Of course, I don't like to think
that you should be kept waiting. I am not sure that I
quite like it myself. I will do anything you propose, and
am not afraid of running a little risk. If we could get
married without his knowing anything about it, I am sure
he would give the money afterwards,--because he is always
so good-natured in the long run, and so generous. He can
be very savage, but he would be sure to forgive.

How would it be if I were to go away? I am of age, and
I believe that no one could stop me. If you could manage
that we should get married in that way, I would do my
best. I know people can get themselves married at Ostend.
I do not see what else is to be done. You can write
to me at present here, and nothing wrong will come of
it. But Augusta says that if papa were to begin to
suspect anything about my going away he would stop my
lette