om that conception resulted an amorous mood, so
much inflamed by Nancy's presence that a young man, whose thoughts did
not often transgress decorum, had every reason to suppose himself her
victim. When Nancy rejected his formal offer of devotion, the desire to
wed her besieged him more vigorously; Samuel was piqued at the tone of
lofty trifling in which the girl answered his proposal; for assuredly
he esteemed himself no less remarkable a person than he appeared in the
eyes of his sisters, and his vanity had been encouraged by Mr. Lord's
favour. Of his qualities as a man of business there was no doubt; in
one direction or another, he would have struck the road to fortune; why
Nancy should regard him with condescension, and make him feel at
once that his suit was hopeless, puzzled him for many a day. He tried
flattery, affecting to regard her as his superior in things of the
intellect, but only with the mortifying result that Miss. Lord accepted
his humility as quite natural. Then he held apart in dignified reserve,
and found no difficulty in maintaining this attitude until after Mr.
Lord's death. Of course he did not let his relatives know of the repulse
he had suffered, but, when speaking to them of what had happened on
Jubilee night, he made it appear that his estimate of Miss. Lord
was undergoing modification. 'She has lost him, all through her
flightiness,' said the sisters to each other. They were not sorry, and
felt free again to criticise Nancy's ideas of maidenly modesty.

The provisions of Mr. Lord's will could not but trouble the intercourse
between Grove Lane and Dagmar Road. Mr. Barmby, senior, undertook with
characteristic seriousness the guardianship conferred upon him. He had
long interviews with Horace and Nancy, in which he acquitted himself
greatly to his own satisfaction. Samuel, equally a trustee, showed his
delicacy by holding aloof save when civility dictated a call upon the
young people. But his hopes had revived; he was quite willing to wait
three years for Nancy, and it seemed to him more than probable that
this period of reflection would bring the young lady to a sense of his
merits. In the meantime, he would pursue with energy the business now at
his sole direction, and make it far more lucrative than when managed on
Mr. Lord's old-fashioned principles.

As the weeks went on, it seemed more clear than at first that Nancy
resented the authority held by Samuel and his father. They were not
welc