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。