l want, and you know that we were always very foolishly proud--we
Grammonts.'

'Very foolishly proud, the lot of you,' said Mr. Gregory. 'You knew very
well how much I owed to your father's help and advice when I was a young
man. You know that Lizzie would have given you a home, and have thought
herself more than paid by your society and friendship.' (Lizzie was the
late Mrs. Gregory.) 'Forgive me,' he said a minute later. 'Had I been
in your place, I should probably have done as you have done. But now to
business. Fifteen thousand pounds remain in my hands. Of this sum only
ten thousand honestly belongs to you two.'

'How is this?' asked Miss Grammont.

'Mr. Calvotti told me just now that my father had left but ten thousand
pounds in all.'

'For investment, madam--for investment. I am a business man and I have
invested it and doubled it. That graceless brother of yours who has gone
away with his five thousand now will be back in a year's time to borrow.
He will still have five thousand to draw upon, but I hold his discharge
in full, and I shall cheat him for his own good and button him
down tightly to a weekly allowance. Money is cheap just now, Miss
Grammont--dirt cheap--and you can't do better than leave this in my
hands at five per cent, interest. That's five hundred a year. But all
that we'll talk about, in future. Meantime, that's the first half-year's
allowance'--laying a cheque upon the table--'and the first thing to be
done is to leave this place and come straightway to my house until you
can look about you and settle where to live.'

'You are just as generous and just as imperious as you always were,'
said Miss Grammont. 'We will come this day week.'

'Come now,' said Mr. Gregory. 'My sister will make you comfortable. Poor
Jane's an old maid still, and lives with me.'

'Not now,' she said. 'There are many things to be seen to before we can
leave here.'

I saw her glance at her own shabby dress, and he saw that also.

'When you like,' he said cheerfully. 'But this day week is a bargain.
At what time? Say two o'clock. I'll be there to meet you. Good-day,
Calvotti; good-day, Miriam.' Then he turned and kissed Cecilia.
'Good-day, Baby. God bless my soul! it seems only the other day since
you _were_ a baby. And now I suppose you'll be getting married in a week
or two.'

Cecilia blushed and laughed, and Mr. Gregory turned round with a
droll look to me, and then took his hat and went in his own solid and