the Dean was unfortunately cognisant, and of
which he would speak and with which he would concern him,--much to the
annoyance of the Marquis. The will which the late man had made was a
serious temporary embarrassment. There was no money with which to do
anything. The very bed on which the mother lay with her baby belonged
to Jack De Baron. They were absolutely drinking Jack De Baron's port
wine, and found, when the matter came to be considered, that they were
making butter from Jack De Baron's cows. This could not be long
endured. Jack, who was now bound to have a lawyer of his own, had very
speedily signified his desire that the family should be put to no
inconvenience, and had declared that any suggestion from the Marquis as
to the house in town or that in the country would be a law to him. But
it was necessary that everything should be valued at once, and either
purchased or given up to be sold to those who would purchase it. There
was, however, no money, and the Marquis who hated the idea of borrowing
was told that he must go among the money-lenders. Then the Dean
proposed that he and Miss Tallowax between them might be able to
advance what was needed. The Marquis shook his head and said nothing.
The proposition had been very distasteful to him.

Then there came another proposition. But it will be right in the first
place to explain that the great question of godfather and godmother had
received much attention. His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor had
signified through young Lord Brabazon that he would stand as one of the
sponsors. The honour had been very great, and had of course been
accepted at the moment. The Dean had hankered much after the office,
but had abstained from asking with a feeling that should the request be
refused a coolness would be engendered which he himself would be unable
to repress. It would have filled him with delight to stand in his own
cathedral as godfather to the little Popenjoy; but he abstained, and
soon heard that the Duke of Dunstable, who was a distant cousin, was to
be the colleague of His Royal Highness. He smiled and said nothing of
himself,--but thought that his liberality might have been more
liberally remembered.

Just at this time Miss Tallowax arrived at the deanery, and on the next
morning the Dean came over to Manor Cross with a proposition from that
lady. She would bestow twenty thousand pounds immediately upon
Popenjoy, and place it for instant use in the father's ha