tell how I could have raised
it. For the rest, I could ask him no questions. No doubt it is the old
story, and, as Arthur's friend, he could not be willing to explain it to
me. I am only glad it is in such safe hands. As to its being a liberty,
I told him it was one which only a brave thorough-going friend would
have taken. I feel as if it might be the saving of his life.'

Theodora bent down to help little Anna, and said, 'You know it is Sir
Antony Fotheringham's son that Miss Gardner married?'

'Ay!' said Lord Martindale, so much absorbed in his son as to forget his
daughter's interest in Percival Fotheringham. 'He says Arthur's cough
did not seem so painful as when he saw him before, and that he even
spoke several times. I am frightened to think what the risk has been of
letting him in.'

'Arthur insisted,' said Theodora, between disappointment at the want of
sympathy, and shame for having expected it, and she explained how the
interview had been unavoidable.

'Well, it is well over, and no harm done,' said Lord Martindale, not
able to absolve the sister from imprudence. After a space, he added,
'What did you say? The deficient young Fotheringham married?'

'Yes, to Jane Gardner.'

'Why, surely some one said it was Percy himself!'

'So Violet was told at Rickworth.'

Lord Martindale here suddenly recollected all, as his daughter perceived
by his beginning to reprove Helen for stirring about the salt. Presently
he said, 'Have you heard that the other sister, the widow--what is her
name?'

'Mrs. Finch--'

'Is going to be foolish enough to marry that Gardner. She was your
friend, was not she?'

'Yes, poor thing. Did you hear much about her?'

'Percy says that she was kind and attentive to the old man, as long as
he lived, though she went out a great deal while they lived abroad, and
got into a very disreputable style of society there. Old Finch has left
everything in her power; and from some words overheard on the quay at
Boulogne, Percy understood that Gardner was on his way to pay his court
to her at Paris. There was a former attachment it seems, and she is
actually engaged to him. One can hardly pity her. She must do it with
her eyes open.'

Theodora felt much pity. She had grieved at the entire cessation of
intercourse, even by letter, which had ensued when the Finches went to
the Continent; and she thought Georgina deserved credit for not having
again seen Mark, when, as it now appeared, there had