m?" said the
anxious mother. "I am so glad! My own dear, good, sensible Frank!"

"I never had any difference with Fanny," said he. "I was not able
to explain all about it, nor can I now: it was a crotchet of the
earl's--only some nonsense; however, I'm off now--I can't wait a day,
for I mean to write to say I shall be at Grey Abbey the day after
to-morrow, and I must go by Dublin. I shall be off in a couple of
hours; so, for Heaven's sake, Sophy, look sharp and put up my things."

The girls both bustled out of the room, and Frank was following them,
but his mother called him back. "When is it to be, Frank? Come tell
me something about it. I never asked any questions when I thought the
subject was a painful one."

"God bless you, mother, you never did. But I can tell you nothing--only
the stupid old earl has begged me to go there at once. Fanny must
settle the time herself: there'll be settlements, and lawyer's work."

"That's true, my love. A hundred thousand pounds in ready cash does
want looking after. But look here, my dear; Fanny is of age, isn't
she?"

"She is, mother."

"Well now, Frank, take my advice; they'll want to tie up her money in
all manner of ways, so as to make it of the least possible use to you,
or to her either. They always do; they're never contented unless they
lock up a girl's money, so that neither she nor her husband can spend
the principal or the interest. Don't let them do it, Frank. Of course
she will be led by you, let them settle whatever is fair on her; but
don't let them bother the money so that you can't pay off the debts.
It'll be a grand thing, Frank, to redeem the property."

Frank hemmed and hawed, and said he'd consult his lawyer in Dublin
before the settlements were signed; but declared that he was not going
to marry Fanny Wyndham for her money.

"That's all very well, Frank," said the mother; "but you know you could
not marry her without the money, and mind, it's now or never. Think
what a thing it would be to have the property unencumbered!"

The son hurried away to throw himself at the feet of his mistress, and
the mother remained in her drawing-room, thinking with delight on the
renovated grandeur of the family, and of the decided lead which the
O'Kellys would again be able to take in Connaught.

Fanny's joy was quite equal to that of her lover, but it was not shown
quite so openly. Her aunt congratulated her most warmly; kissed her
twenty times; called her her own