lways be, at any rate, one of my chief objects to make her
comfortable, but I think that this should be done under my roof
and not under yours. I hope to be able to see her in a day or two,
when perhaps I shall have been able to settle upon something.

"Yours always affectionately,

"G. GERMAIN."

Then, upon reading this over and feeling that it was cold and almost
heartless, he added a postscript. "I do feel your offer to be very
generous, but I think you will understand the reasons which make it
impossible that I should accept it." The Dean as he read this declared
to himself that he knew the reasons very well. The reasons were not far
to search. The man was pigheaded, foolish, and obstinately proud. So
the Dean thought. As far as he himself was concerned Lord George's
presence in the house would not be a comfort to him. Lord George had
never been a pleasant companion to him. But he would have put up with
worse than Lord George for the sake of his daughter.

On the very next day Lord George rode into Brotherton and went direct
to the deanery. Having left his horse at the inn he met the Dean in the
Close, coming out of a side door of the Cathedral close to the deanery
gate. "I thought I would come in to see Mary," he said.

"Mary will be delighted."

"I did not believe that I should be able to come so soon when I wrote
yesterday."

"I hope you are going to tell her that you have thought better of my
little plan."

"Well;--no; I don't think I can do that. I think she must come to me
first, sir."

"But where!"

"I have not yet quite made up my mind. Of course there is a difficulty.
My brother's conduct has been so very strange."

"Your brother is a madman, George."

"It is very easy to say so, but that does not make it any better.
Though he be ever so mad the house is his own. If he chooses to turn me
out of it he can. I have told Mr. Knox that I would leave it within a
month,--for my mother's sake; but that as I had gone there at his
express instance, I could not move sooner. I think I was justified in
that."

"I don't see why you should go at all."

"He would let the place."

"Or, if you do go, why you should not come here. But, of course, you
know your own business best. How d'ye do, Mr. Groschut? I hope the
Bishop is better this morning."

At this moment, just as they were entering the deanery gate, the
Bishop's chaplain had appeared. He had been very studious in spreadi