the risk,--for your
sake."

"For your own, you mean," she said.

"Nor for my own, if you wish me to add that also."

Then they walked up towards the house for some little way in silence.
"What is it you intend, then?" she asked.

"I will ask your father once again."

"He will simply turn you out of the house," she said. Upon this
he shrugged his shoulders, and they walked on to the hall-door in
silence.

Sir Thomas was not at Merle Park, nor was he expected home that
evening. Frank Houston could only therefore ask for Lady Tringle,
and her he saw together with Mr. and Mrs. Traffick. In presence of
them all nothing could be said of love affairs; and, after sitting
for half-an-hour, during which he was not entertained with much
cordiality, he took his leave, saying that he would do himself the
honour of calling on Sir Thomas in the City. While he was in the
drawing-room Gertrude did not appear. She had retired to her room,
and was there resolving that Frank Houston was not such a lover as
would justify a girl in breaking her heart for him.

And Frank as he went to town brought his mind to the same way of
thinking. The girl wanted something romantic to be done, and he was
not disposed to do anything romantic for her. He was not in the least
angry with her, acknowledging to himself that she had quite as much a
right to her way of looking at things as he had to his. But he felt
almost sure that the Tringle alliance must be regarded as impossible.
If so, should he look out for another heiress, or endeavour to
enjoy life, stretching out his little income as far as might be
possible;--or should he assume altogether a new character, make a
hero of himself, and ask Imogene Docimer to share with him a little
cottage, in whatever might be the cheapest spot to be found in the
civilised parts of Europe? If it was to be hashed mutton and a united
cradle, he would prefer Imogene Docimer to Gertrude Tringle for his
companion.

But there was still open to him the one further chance with Sir
Thomas; and this chance he could try with the comfortable feeling
that he might be almost indifferent as to what Sir Thomas might say.
To be prepared for either lot is very self-assuring when any matter
of difficulty has to be taken in hand. On arriving at the house in
Lombard Street he soon found himself ushered once more into Sir
Thomas's presence. "Well, Mr. Houston, what can I do for you to-day?"
asked the man of business, with a plea