will correspond with you or anything of that kind. My
children have been decently brought up. What I say is done; and what I
say shan't be done, is not done!"

He had recovered his formidableness now, and the artist's face fell. For
a moment he looked gloomily at his father-in-law elect, and then he
turned for the door.

"We shall see," he said.

"You shall not see _her_ again," retorted Mr. Walkingshaw.

The door slammed behind art and love and impracticability, and he stood
in his vast drawing-room alone.

CHAPTER IV

It is a pleasant and an edifying thing to contrast the difference
between the fates of the reputable and the Bohemian even in the lists of
love. Clearly these matters are managed by some scrupulously equitable
power. One hesitates to dub it Providence for fear of seeming
sentimental, but one may safely describe it as something almost as wise
and decidedly more respectable. Here was Lucas Vernon, without a settled
income or any very coherent notion of how to make one, dismissed the
house of the girl he was foolish enough to love. There, on the other
hand, was Andrew Walkingshaw, who had first devoted himself to amassing
and investing a handsome competence, and then, without any further
difficulty to speak of, had selected and secured one of the most
charming girls imaginable. In every respect but one he had chosen
obviously well. She was fair to see, and hence very gratifying to be
seen with; she was quite young, and therefore amenable and not too
sophisticated; and she came of so excellent and ancient a family that
it was a pleasure merely to mention the name of his prospective
father-in-law to his envious acquaintances. Archibald Berstoun, Esq., of
that ilk, was the style in which that gentleman preferred to have
correspondence addressed to him, accepting Berstoun of Berstoun as a
less satisfactory alternative, and answering very briefly letters to
plain Archibald Berstoun, Esq.

The only drawback to Ellen Berstoun was her father's unfortunate
financial position. Andrew had to take her without a penny; but then, on
the other hand, he might not have got her at all had her parents the
wherewithal to display her charms in London ballrooms. Also, Archibald
of that ilk might have looked for a showier mate for her under more
prosperous circumstances. As it was, her parents spent a strenuous
fortnight in persuading her to accept so excellent an opportunity of
reducing their supply of marriagea