of
Oxford Street, and there had two mutton chops, some buttered toast,
and some tea. As he drank his tea he told himself that on the morrow
he would go back to his mother at Merle Park, and get from her such
consolation as might be possible.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

GERTRUDE IS UNSUCCESSFUL.

It was now the middle of January, and Gertrude Tringle had received
no reply from her lover to the overture which she had made him. Nor,
indeed, had she received any letter from him since that to which
this overture had been a reply. It was now two months since her
proposition had been made, and during that time her anger had waxed
very hot against Mr. Houston. After all, it might be a question
whether Mr. Houston was worth all the trouble which she, with her
hundred thousand pounds, was taking on his behalf. She did not like
the idea of abandoning him, because, by doing so, she would seem to
yield to her father. Having had a young man of her own, it behoved
her to stick to her young man in spite of her parents. But what is
a girl to do with a lover who, at the end of two months, has made
no reply to an offer from herself that he should run away with her,
and take her to Ostend? She was in this frame of mind when, lo
and behold, she found her own letter, still inclosed in her own
envelope,--but opened, and thrust in amongst some of her father's
papers. It was evident enough that the letter had never passed from
out of the house. There had been treachery on the part of some
servant;--or perhaps her father might have condescended to search the
little box;--or, more probable still, Augusta had betrayed her! Then
she reflected that she had communicated her purpose to her sister,
that her sister had abstained from any questions since the letter
had been written, and that her sister, therefore, no doubt, was the
culprit. There, however, was the letter, which had never reached her
lover's hands, and, as a matter of course, her affections returned
with all their full ardour to the unfortunate ill-used man. That her
conduct was now watched would, she thought, be a matter of course.
Her father knew her purpose, and, like stern parents in general,
would use all his energies to thwart it. Sir Thomas had, in truth,
thought but little about the matter since he had first thrust the
letter away. Tom's troubles, and the disgrace brought by them upon
Travers and Treason generally, had so occupied his mind that he cared
but little for Gertrude