SirRobertMainwaring，whosefamilyhadforthreecenturiespossessedOldenhurst，hadreceivedthenewsofhisfinancialruin；
andthevastpilewhichhadsurvivedtherepeatedinvasionofsuperstition，force，intrigue，andevenprogress，hadsuccumbedtoafoeitsfoundersandproprietorshadloftilyignoredandlefttoJewsandtraders。Theacquisitionofmoney，exceptbydespoilment，gift，royalfavor，orinheritance，hadbeenunknownatOldenhurst。
Thepresentdegeneratecustodianofitsfortunes，staggeringundertheweightofitssentimentalmortmainalreadyalludedto，hadspeculatedinordertokeepupitsmaterialstrength，thatwasgraduallyshrinkingthroughimpoverishedlandandtheruinedtradeithaddespised。HehadinvestedlargelyinCaliforniamines，andwasthechiefshareholderinaSanFranciscoBank。Butthemineshadprovedworthless，theBankhadthatmorningsuspendedpayment，owingtothefailureofalargelandandtimbercompanyontheSierraswhichithadimprudently"carried。”ThesparkwhichhaddemolishedOldenhursthadbeenfiredfromthenewtelegraph-stationinthehotelabovethegreatSierrancanyon。
Therewasalargehouse-partyatOldenhurstthatmorning。ButithadbeenapartofthehistoryoftheMainwaringstoacceptdefeatgallantlyandasbecametheirblood。SirPercival，——thesecondgentlemanontheleftasyouenteredthelibrary，——unhorsed，dyingonadistantmoor，withahandfuloffollowers，abandonedbyacharmingPrinceandamiserablecause，wasscarcelyagreaterherothanthisruinedbutundauntedgentlemanofeighty，enteringthebreakfast-roomafewhourslaterasjauntilyashisgoutwouldpermit，andconscientiouslydispensingthehospitalitiesofhiscrumblinghouse。Whenhehadarrangedafewpleasurepartiesforthedayandhimselfthoughtfullyanticipatedthedifferenttastesofhisguests，heturnedtoLadyMainwaring。
"Don'tforgetthatsomebodyoughttogotothestationtomeettheBradleys。FrankwritesfromSt。Moritzthattheyareduehereto-day。”
LadyMainwaringglancedquicklyatherhusband，andsaidsottovoce，"Doyouthinkthey'llcaretocomeNOW？Theyprobablyhaveheardallaboutit。”
"Nothowitaffectsme，"returnedSirRobert，inthesametone；
"andastheymightthinkthatbecauseFrankwaswiththemonthatCaliforniamountainwewouldbelieveithadsomethingtodowithRichardsoninvolvingtheBankinthatwretchedcompany，wemustreallyINSISTupontheircoming。”
"Bradley!"echoedtheHon。CaptainFitzHarry，overhearingthenameduringalateforageonthesideboard，"Bradley!——therewasanawfullyprettyAmericanatBiarritz，travellingwithacousin，I
think——aMissMasonorMacy。Thosesortofpeople，youknow，whohaveacompanionasprettyasthemselves；bringyoudownwiththeotherbarrelifonemisses——eh？Veryclever，bothofthem，andhardlyanyaccent。”
"Mr。BradleywasaverydearfriendofFrank's，andmostkindtohim，"saidLadyMainwaring，gravely。
"Didn'tknowthereWASaMr。Bradley，really。Hedidn'tcometothefore，then，"saidtheunabashedCaptain。"DeucedhardtofollowupthoseAmericanhusbands!"
"Andtheirwiveswouldn'tthankyou，ifyoudid，"saidLadyGriseldaArmiger，withasweetsmile。
"IfitistheMrs。BradleyImean，"saidLadyCanterbridgefromthelowerendofthetable，lookingupfromherletter，"wholooksalittlelikeMrs。Summertree，andhasaprettycousinwithherwhohasverygoodfrocks，I'mafraidyouwon'tbeabletogetherdownhere。She'sbookedwithengagementsforthenextsixweeks。SheandhercousinmadealltherunningatGrigsbyRoyal，andshehasquitedeposedthatotherAmericanbeautyinNorthforeland'sgoodgraces。Sheregularlyaffiche'dhim，anditispiteoustoseehimfollowherabout。No，mydear；Idon'tbelievethey'llcometoanyoneoflessrankthanaMarquis。Iftheydid，I'msureCanterbridgewouldhavehadthematBuckenthorpealready。”
"IwonderiftherewaseveranythinginFrank'sadmirationofthisMissMacy？"saidLadyMainwaringafewmomentslater，lingeringbesideherhusbandinhisstudy。
"Ireallydon'tknow，"saidSirRobert，abstractedly:"hisletterswerefilledwithherpraises，andRichardsonthought——"
"Praydon'tmentionthatman'snameagain，"saidLadyMainwaring，withthefirstindicationoffeelingshehadshown。"Ishouldn'ttrusthim。”
"Butwhydoyouask？"returnedherhusband。
LadyMainwaringwassilentforamoment。"Sheisveryrich，I
believe，"shesaidslowly。"Atleast，FrankwritesthatsomeneighborsoftheirswhomhemetintheEngadinetoldhimtheyhadsoldthesiteofthatabsurdcottagewherehewasillforsomeextravagantsum。”
"MydearGeraldine，"saidtheoldman，affectionately，takinghiswife'shandinhisown，thatnowforthefirsttimetrembled，"ifyouhaveanyhopebaseduponwhatyouarethinkingofnow，letitbethelastandleast。YouforgetthatPagettoldusthatwiththebestcarehecouldscarcelyensureFrank'sreturntoperfecthealth。EvenifGodinhismercysparedhimlongenoughtotakemyplace，whatgirlwouldbewillingtotieherselftoamandoomedtosicknessandpoverty？Hardlytheoneyouspeakof，mydear。”
LadyCanterbridgeprovedatrueprophet。Mrs。BradleyandMissMacydidnotcome，regretfullyallegingapreviousengagementmadeonthecontinentwiththeDukeofNorthforelandandtheMarquisofDungeness；buttheunexpectedandapocryphalhusbandDIDarrive。
"ImyselfhavenotseenmywifeandcousinsinceIreturnedfrommyvisittoyoursoninSwitzerland。IamgladtheywereabletoamusethemselveswithoutwaitingformeataLondonhotel，thoughI
shouldhavepreferredtohavemetthemhere。”SirRobertandLadyMainwaringwerecourteousbutslightlyembarrassed。LadyCanterbridge，whohadcometothestationinboredcuriosity，raisedherclearblueeyestohis。Hedidnotlooklikeafool，acomplaisantorfashionably-cynicalhusband——thiswell-dressed，well-mannered，butquietlyandsympatheticallyobservantman。Didhereallycareforhisselfishwife？wasitperfecttrustorsomeabsurdTransatlanticcustom？Shedidnotunderstandhim。Itweariedherandsheturnedhereyesindifferentlyaway。Bradley，alittleirritated，heknewnotwhy，atthescrutinyofthistall，handsome，gentlemanly-lookingwoman，who，however，inspiteofherbroadshouldersandnarrowhipspossessedarefinedmuliebritysuperiortomerewomanlinessofoutline，turnedslightlytowardsSirRobert。"LadyCanterbridge，Frank'scousin，"explainedSirRobert，hesitatingly，asifconsciousofsomevagueawkwardness。
BradleyandLadyCanterbridgebothbowed，——possiblythelatter'ssalutationwasthemostmasculine，——andBradley，eventuallyforgettingherpresence，plungedintoanearnest，sympathetic，andintelligentaccountoftheconditioninwhichhefoundtheinvalidatSt。Moritz。Theoldmanatfirstlistenedwithanalmostperfunctorycourtesyandahesitatingreserve；butasBradleywaslapsingintoequalreserveandtheydroveuptothegatesofthequadrangle，heunexpectedlywarmedwithawordortwoofseriouswelcome。Lookingupwithahalf-unconscioussmile，BradleymetLadyCanterbridge'sexaminingeyes。
Thenextmorning，findinganopportunitytobealonewithhim，Bradley，withatactfulminglingofsympathyanddirectnessinformedhishostthathewascognizantofthedisasterthathadovertakentheBank，anddelicatelybeggedhimtoacceptanyservicehecouldrenderhim。"Pardonme，"hesaid，"ifIspeakasplainlytoyouasIwouldtoyourson:myfriendshipforhimjustifiesanequalfranknesstoanyoneheloves；butIshouldnotintrudeuponyourconfidenceifIdidnotbelievethatmyknowledgeandassistancemightbeofbenefittoyou。AlthoughIdidnotsellmylandstoRichardsonorapproveofhismethods，"hecontinued，"IfearitwassomesuggestionofminethateventuallyinducedhimtoformthelargerandmoredisastrousschemethatruinedtheBank。Soyousee，"
headdedlightly，"Iclaimarighttoofferyoumyservices。”
TouchedbyBradley'ssincerityanddiscreetintelligence，SirRobertwasequallyfrank。DuringtherecitalofhisCalifornianinvestments——achronicleofalmostfatuousspeculationandimbecileenterprise——Bradleywasprofoundlymovedatthenaiveignoranceofbusinessandhopelessingenuousnessofthisoldhabitueofacynicalworldandanintriguingandinsinceresociety，towhomnoschemehadbeentoowildforacceptance。AsBradleylistenedwithahalf-saddenedsmiletothegravevisionsofthisagedenthusiast，herememberedtheson'sunsophisticatedsimplicity:whathehadconsideredasthe"boyishness"ofimmaturitywasthetaintoftheutterlyunpracticalMainwaringblood。Itwasuponthisblood，andotherslikeit，thatOldenhursthadforcenturieswaxedandfattened。
Bradleywastruetohispromiseofassistance，andwiththeaidoftwoorthreeofhisbrother-millionaires，whoseknowledgeoftheresourcesofthelocalitywasnolesspowerfulandconvincingthanthesecurityoftheiractualwealth，managedtostaytheimmediateactionofthecatastropheuntiltheaffairsoftheSierranLandandTimberCompanycouldbeexaminedandsomeplanofreconstructionarranged。
Duringthisintervaloffivemonths，inwhichthecreditofSirRobertMainwaringwaspreservedwiththesecretofhisdisaster，BradleywasafrequentandwelcomevisitortoOldenhurst。ApartfromhisstrangeandchivalrousfriendshipfortheMainwarings——
whichwasasincomprehensibletoSirRobertasSirRobert'sequallyeccentricandQuixoticspeculationshadbeentoBradley——hebegantofeelasingularandweirdfascinationfortheplace。ApatientmartyrinthevastLondonhousehehadtakenforhiswifeandcousin'samusement，helovedtoescapethelonelinessofitsautumnsolitudeortheoccasionalgreaterlonelinessofhiswife'ssocialtriumphs。Thehandsome，thoughtfulmanwhosometimesappearedatthefootofhiswife'stableormeltedawaylikeawell-bredghostinthehollowemptinessofherbrilliantreceptions，piquedthelanguidcuriosityofafew。Adistinguishedpersonage，knownforhistactfulobservanceofconvenancesthatothersforgot，hadmadeapointofchallengingthisgentlemanlyapparition，andhadfolloweditupwithcourteouscivilities，whichledtoexchangeofmuchrespectbutnoincreaseofacquaintance。HehadevenspentaweekatBuckenthorpe，withCanterbridgeinthecovertsandLadyCanterbridgeinthemusic-roomandlibrary。Hehadreturnedmorethoughtful，andforsometimeafterwasmorefrequentinhisappearancesathome，andmoreearnestinhisrenewedeffortstoinducehiswifetoreturntoAmericawithhim。
"You'llneverbehappyanywherebutinCalifornia，amongthosecommonpeople，"shereplied；"andwhileIwaswillingtoshareyourpovertyTHERE，"sheaddeddryly，"Iprefertoshareyourwealthamongcivilizedladiesandgentlemen。Besides，"shecontinued，"wemustconsiderLouise。SheisasgoodasengagedtoLordDunshunner，andIdonotintendthatyoushallmakeamessofheraffairshereasyoudidinCalifornia。”
ItwasthefirsttimehehadheardofLordDunshunner'sproposals；
itwasthefirstallusionshehadevermadetoLouiseandMainwaring。
Meantime，theautumnleaveshadfallensilentlyoverthebroadterracesofOldenhurstwithlittlechangestothefortunesofthegreathouseitself。TheChristmashouse-partyincludedLadyCanterbridge，whosehusbandwasstilldetainedatHomburgincompanywithDunshunner；andBradley，whosewifeandcousinlingeredonthecontinent。HewasslightlyembarrassedwhenLadyCanterbridgeturnedtohimoneafternoonastheywerereturningfromthelakeandcongratulatedhimabruptlyuponLouise'sengagement。
"Perhapsyoudon'tcaretobecongratulated，"shesaid，ashedidnotimmediatelyrespond，"andyouhadaslittletodowithitaswiththatother？Itisawoman'sfunction。”
"Whatother？"echoedBradley。
LadyCanterbridgeslightlyturnedherhandsomeheadtowardshimasshewalkedunbendinglyathisside。"Tellmehowyoumanagetokeepyourabsolutesimplicitysofresh。Doyousupposeitwasn'tknownatOldenhurstthatFrankhadquitecompromisedhimselfwithMissMacyoverthere？"
"Itcertainlywasnotknown'overthere，'"saidBradley，curtly。
"Don'tbeangrywithme。”
Suchanappealfromthetall，indifferentwomanathisside，soconfidentlysuperiortocriticism，andutteredinalowtone，madehimsmile，albeituneasily。
"Ionlymeanttocongratulateyou，"shecontinuedcarelessly。
"Dunshunnerisnotabadsortoffellow，andwillcomeintoagoodpropertysomeday。Andthen，societyissomadeupofcaprice，justnow，thatitiswellforyourwife'scousintomakethemostofheropportunitieswhiletheylast。Sheisverypopularnow；butnextseason——"SeeingthatBradleyremainedsilent，shedidnotfinishthesentence，butsaidwithherusualabruptness，"DoyouknowaMissAramintaEulalieSharpe？"
Bradleystarted。CouldanyonerecognizehonestMintyinthehopelessvulgaritywhichthisfineladyhadmanagedtocarelesslyimportintohername？Hiseyekindled。
"Sheisanoldfriendofmine，LadyCanterbridge。”
"Howfortunate!ThenIcanpleaseyoubygivingyougoodnewsofher。Sheisthecomingsensation。Theysaysheisveryrich，butquiteoneofthepeople，youknow:infact，shemakesnoscruplesoftellingyouherfatherwasablacksmith，Ithink，andtakesthedearoldmanwithhereverywhere。FitzHarryravesabouther，andsayshernaiveteissomethingtoodelicious。Sheisregularlyinwithsomeofthebestpeoplealready。LadyDungenesshastakenherup，andNorthforelandisonlywaitingforyourcousin'sengagementtobeabletogooverdecently。ShallIaskhertoBuckenthorpe？——
come，now，asanapologyformyrudenesstoyourcousin？"Shewasverywomanlynowinspiteofherhighcollar，herstraightback，andhertightly-fittingjacket，asshestoodtheresmiling。
Suddenly，hersmilefaded；shedrewherbreathinquickly。
Shehadcaughtaglimpseofhisusuallythoughtfulfaceandeyes，nowilluminatedwithsomepleasantmemory。
"Thankyou，"hesaidsmilingly，yetwithacertainhesitation，ashethoughtofTheLookoutandAramintaEulalieSharpe，andtriedtoreconcilethemwiththeladybeforehim。"Ishouldlikeitverymuch。”
"ThenyouhaveknownMissSharpealongtime？"continuedLadyCanterbridgeastheywalkedon。
"WhilewewereatTheLookoutshewasournearestneighbor。”
"AndIsupposeyourwifewillconsideritquiteproperforyoutoseeheragainatmyhouse？"saidLadyCanterbridge，withareturnofconventionallevity。
"Oh!quite，"saidBradley。
TheyhadreachedthelowNorman-archedside-entrancetothequadrangle。AsBradleyswungopenthebolt-studdedoakendoortoletherpass，shesaidcarelessly，——
"Thenyouarenotcominginnow？"
"No；Ishallwalkalittlelonger。”
"AndIamquiteforgiven？"
"Iamthankingyouverymuch，"hesaid，smilingdirectlyintoherblueeyes。Sheloweredthem，andvanishedintothedarknessofthepassage。
ThenewsofMinty'ssuccesswasfurthercorroboratedbySirRobert，wholaterthateveningcalledBradleyintothestudy。"FrankhasbeenwritingfromNicethathehasrenewedhisacquaintancewithsomeoldCalifornianfriendsofyours——aMr。andMissSharpe。LadyCanterbridgesaysthattheyarewellknowninLondontosomeofourfriends，butIwouldliketoaskyousomethingaboutthem。LadyMainwaringwasonthepointofinvitingthemherewhenIreceivedaletterfromMr。SharpeaskingforaBUSINESSinterview。PraywhoisthisSharpe？"
"YousayhewritesforaBUSINESSinterview？"askedBradley。
"Yes。”
Bradleyhesitatedforamomentandthensaidquietly，"Perhaps，then，Iamjustifiedinabreachofconfidencetohim，inordertoansweryourquestion。HeisthemanwhohasassumedalltheliabilitiesoftheSierranLandandTimberCompanytoenabletheBanktoresumepayment。Buthediditontheconditionthatyouwerenevertoknowit。Fortherest，hewasablacksmithwhomadeafortune，asLadyCanterbridgewilltellyou。”
"Howveryodd——howkind，Imean。IshouldliketohavebeenciviltohimonFrank'saccountalone。”
"Ishouldseehimonbusinessandbeciviltohimafterwards。”SirRobertreceivedtheAmerican'slevitywithhisusualseriousness。
"No，theymustcomehereforChristmas。Hisdaughteris——？"
"AramintaEulalieSharpe，"saidBradley，indefiantmemoryofLadyCanterbridge。
SirRobertwincedaudibly。"Ishallrelyonyou，mydearboy，tohelpmemakeitpleasantforthem，"hesaid。
Christmascame，butnotMinty。ItdrewalargecontingentfromOldenhursttothequaintoldchurch，whocametoviewthegreen-
wreathedmonuments，andwallsspottedwithcrimsonberries，asifwiththebloodofformerOldenhurstwarriors，andtoimpressthewonderingvillagerswiththeineffablegoodnessandbountyoftheCreatortowardstheLordsofOldenhurstandtheirfriends。SirRobert，alittlegouty，keptthehouse，andBradley，somewhatuneasyattheSharpes'absence，butmoredistraitwithotherthoughts，wanderedlistlesslyinthelonglibrary。Atthelowerangleitwasembayedintotheoctagonspaceofaformertower，whichwasfurnishedasaquaintrecessforwritingorstudy，piercedthroughitsenormouswallswithalance-shapedwindow，hiddenbyheavycurtains。HewasgazingabstractedlyatthemelancholyeyesofSirPercival，lookingdownfromthedarkpanelopposite，whenheheardthecrisprustleofaskirt。LadyCanterbridgetightlyandstifflybuttonedinblackfromherlongnarrowbootstoherslim，white-collaredneck，stoodbesidehimwithaprayer-bookinherunglovedhand。Bradleycoloredquickly；
thepenetratingincenseoftheChristmasboughsandbranchesthatdeckedthewallsandceilings，mingledwithsomeindefinableintoxicatingaurafromthewomanathisside，confusedhissenses。
Heseemedtobelosinghimselfinsomeforgottenpastcoevalwiththelong，quaintly-lightedroom，therichhangings，andthepaintedancestorofthishandsomewoman。Herecoveredhimselfwithaneffort，andsaid，"Youaregoingtochurch？"
"Imaymeetthemcominghome；it'sallthesame。YoulikeHIM？"
shesaidabruptly，pointingtotheportrait。"Ithoughtyoudidnotcareforthatsortofmanoverthere。”
"Amanlikethatmusthavefelttheimpotenceofhissacrificebeforehedied，andthatcondonedeverything，"saidBradley，thoughtfully。
"Thenyoudon'tthinkhimafool？Bobsaysitwasafairbargainforatitleandanoffice，andthatbydyingheescapedtrialandtheconfiscationofwhathehad。”
Bradleydidnotreply。
"Iamdisturbingyourillusionsagain。YetIratherlikethem。I
thinkyouarequitecapableofasacrifice——perhapsyouknowwhatitisalready。”
Hefeltthatshewaslookingathim；hefeltequallythathecouldnotrespondwithacommonplace。Hewassilent。
"Ihaveoffendedyouagain，Mr。Bradley，"shesaid。"PleasebeChristian，andpardonme。Youknowthisisaseasonofpeaceandgoodwill。”SheraisedherblueeyesatthesamemomenttotheChristmasdecorationsontheceiling。Theywerestandingbeforetheparteddraperyofthelancewindow。Midwaybetweenthearchedcurtainshungasprayofmistletoe——theconceitofamischievoushousemaid。Theireyesmetitsimultaneously。
BradleyhadLadyCanterbridge'sslim，whitehandinhisown。Thenextmomentvoiceswereheardinthepassage，andthedoornearlyoppositetothemopeneddeliberately。Theideaoftheirapparentseclusionandhalfcompromisingattitudeflashedthroughthemindsofbothatthesametime。LadyCanterbridgesteppedquicklybackward，drawingBradleywithher，intotheembrasureofthewindow；thefoldsofthecurtainswungtogetherandconcealedthemfromview。
Thedoorhadbeenopenedbythefootman，usheringinabroad-
shoulderedman，whowascarryingatravelling-bagandanumbrellainhishand。Droppingintoanarm-chairbeforethecurtain，hewavedawaythefootman，who，evennow，mechanicallyrepeatedapreviouslyvainattempttorelievethestrangerofhisluggage。
"Youleavethat'eregripsackwhereitis，youngman，andtellSirRobertMainwaringthatMr。DemanderSharpe，ofCaliforny，wishestoseehim——onbusiness——onBUSINESS，doye'hear？Youhangonterthatsentence——onBUSINESS!it'saboutezmuchezyoukincarry，I
reckon，andleavethatgripsackalone。”
FrombehindthecurtainBradleymadeasuddenmovementtogoforward；butLadyCanterbridge——nowquitepalebutcollected——
restrainedhimwithawarningmovementofherhand。SirRobert'sstickandhaltingstepwerenextheardalongthepassage，andheenteredtheroom。Hissimpleandcourteousgreetingofthestrangerwasinstantlyfollowedbyarenewedattackuponthe"gripsack，"andareneweddefenceofitbythestranger。
"No，SirRobert，"saidthevoiceargumentatively，"thisyer'saBUSINESSinterview，anduntilit'sover——ifYOUplease——we'llremainezweair。I'mDemanderSharpe，ofCaliforny，andIandmydarter，Minty，oncethadthepleasureofknowingyourboyoverthar，andofmeetinghimagintheotherdayatNice。”
"Ithink，"saidSirRobert'svoicegently，"thatthesearenottheonlyclaimsyouhaveuponme。IhaveonlyadayortwoagoheardfromMr。BradleythatIowetoyourgeneroushandsandyourdisinterestedliberalitythesavingofmyCaliforniafortune。”
Therewasthemomentarysoundofapushed-backchair，astampingoffeet，andthenMr。Sharpe'svoicerosehighwiththeblacksmith'soldquerulousaggrievedutterance"Soit'sthatfinikin'，conceitedBradleyagin——that'sgiv'meaway!Efthatman'sall-firedbeliefinhisbeingtheAngelGabrielandDan'lWebsterrolledinteronedon'tbeatanythin'!I
supposethathigh-flyin'jay-birdkalkilatedtoputyouandmeandmygalandyerboyinterharnessforhisfourhosschariotandhesittin'kamontheboxdrivin'us!Whydon'thetendtohisownbusiness，andlookarterhisownconcerns——insteado'leavingJinnyBradleyandLooMacydependentonKingsandQueensandtitledfolksgen'rally，andhe，JimBradley，philanderin'withanotherman'swife——whilethattharmanishardatworktryin'tomakeahonestlivin'ferhiswife，buckin'aginfaroan'thetigergen'rallyatMonaco!Eh？Andthatmana-inter-meddlin'withme!Ef，"
continuedthevoice，droppedtoatoneofhopelessmoralconviction，"efthere'samanImor'alydespise——it'sthatfinikin'
JimBradley。”
"Youquitemisunderstandme，mydearsir，"saidSirRobert'shurriedvoice；"hetoldmeyouhadpledgedhimtosecrecy，andheonlyrevealedittoexplainwhyyouwishedtoseeme。”
Therewasagruntofhalf-placatedwrathfromSharpe，andthenthevoiceresumed，butmoredeliberately，"Well，tocomebacktobusiness:you'vegotaboy，Francis，andI'vegotadarter，Araminty。They'vesortertakenashinetoeachotherandtheywanttogetmarried。Mindyer——waitamoment!——itwasn'tallusso。No，sir；whenmygalAramintyfirstseedyourboyinCalifornyshewaspoor，andshedidn'tkalkilatetogetinteranybody'sfamilyunbeknownstoronsufferance。Thenshegotrichandyougotpoor；
andthen——holdonaminit!——sheallows，doesmygirl，thatthereain'tanynearerchanceo'theirmakingamatchthantheywereafore，forsheisn'tgoin'tohevitsaidthatshemarriedyoursonfurthechanceofsomedaybecomin'LadyMainwaring。”
"Onemoment，Mr。Sharpe，"saidthevoiceoftheBaronet，gravely:
"IambothflatteredandpainedbywhatIbelievetobethekindlyobjectofyourvisit。Indeed，ImaysayIhavegatheredasuspicionofwhatmightbethesequelofthismostunhappyacquaintanceofmysonandyourdaughter；butIcannotbelievethathehaskeptyouinignoranceofhisunfortunateprospectsandhisstillmoreunfortunatestateofhealth。”
"WhenItoldyetoholdonaminit，"continuedtheblacksmith'svoice，withatouchofquerulousnessinitsaccent，"thatwasjistwotIwascomin'to。Iknowedpartofitfrommyownpocket，sheknowedtherestofitfromhislipandthedoctorssheinterviewed。
Andthenshesaystome——sezmygirlMinty——Pop，'shesez，'he'sgotnothingtolivefornowbuthistitle，andthathenevermaylivetoget，sothatIthinkyekinjistgo，Pop，andfairlyandsquarely，asahonestman，askhisfathertoletmehevhim。'
Them'smydarter'sownwords，SirRobert，andwhenItellyerthatshe'sgotamilliono'dollarstobackthem，ye'llknowshemeansbusiness，everytime。”
"DidFrancisknowthatyouwerecominghere？"
"Blessye，no!hedon'tknowthatshewouldhavehim。Efitkemtothat，heain'tevenaskedher!Shewouldn'tlethimuntilshewassureofYOU。”
"Thenyoumeantosaythereisnoengagement？"
"Incoursenot。Ireckonedtodothesquarethingfirstwithye。”
ThehaltingstepoftheBaronetcrossingtheroomwashearddistinctly。HehadstoppedbesideSharpe。"MydearMr。Sharpe，"
hesaid，inatroubledvoice，"Icannotpermitthissacrifice。Itistoo——toogreat!"
"Then，"saidSharpe'svoicequerulously，"I'mafraidwemustdowithoutyourpermission。Ididn'treckontofindasorto'BritishJimBradleyinyou。IfYOUcan'tpermitmydartertosacrificeherselfbymarryin'yourson，Ican'tpermithertosacrificeherloveandhimbyNOTmarryin'him。SoIreckonthisyerinterviewisover。”
"Iamafraidwearebotholdfools，Mr。Sharpe；but——wewilltalkthisoverwithLadyMainwaring。Come——"Therewasevidentlyaslightstrugglenearthechairoversomeinanimateobject。ButthenextmomenttheBaronet'svoicerose，persuasively，"Really，Imustinsistuponrelievingyouofyourbagandumbrella。”
"Well，ifyou'llletmetelegraph'yes'toMinty，Idon'tcareifyerdo。”
Whentheroomwasquietagain，LadyCanterbridgeandJamesBradleysilentlyslippedfromthecurtain，and，withoutaword，separatedatthedoor。
TherewasamerryChristmasatOldenhurstandatNice。ButwhetherMinty'slovingsacrificewasacceptedornot，orwhethersheeverreignedasLadyMainwaring，orlivedanuntitledwidow，Icannotsay。ButasOldenhurststillexistsinallitsprideandpower，itispresumedthattheperilthatthreateneditsfortuneswasaverted，andthatifanotherheroinewasnotfoundworthyofaframeinitspicture-gallery，atleastithadbeensustainedasofoldbydevotionandrenunciation。