weeks ago.

After they had talked for some time, Theodora said, 'We must not talk
away the whole morning; I must write to papa.'

'Yes,' said Percy, 'I came to speak of that. Theodora, perhaps it was
wrong to say what I did last night.'

'How?' said she, frightened.

'You ought to have been told how much worse my position is than before.'

'Oh! is that all?'

'It is a very serious all,' he answered. 'When I spoke before, and was
cool enough to treat it as if I was conferring a favour on you, it
was wonderful that your father consented. Now, you see, Worthbourne is
gone--'

'How can you care for that?'

'I did not, till I began to look at it from your father's point of view.
Besides, I ought to tell you, that there is no chance even of a
legacy. I find that Mrs. Fotheringham rules the house, and has tried
to prejudice my uncle against me. On the marriage, there were fresh
arrangements; my uncle was to alter his will, and it was on that
occasion that Sir Antony sent for me to keep up the balance, and save
him from her influence. Mrs. Martindale was right about her. What a
mischief-maker she is! My delay gave great offence.'

'Your delay on Arthur's account?'

'Yes, she managed to turn it against me. Imagine her having persuaded
them that I reckoned on Pelham's being set aside to make room for me.
She says it was named in this house!'

'Yes, by Jane herself.'

'She represented me as so disgusted at the marriage that I would pay no
attention to Sir Antony. I saw how it was when she received me, purring
and coaxing, and seeming to be making my peace with my uncle. By and by,
Pelham, when we grew intimate again, blundered out the whole,--that
his father wished to have settled something on me; but that Jane had
persuaded him that the whole might be wanted as a provision for their
family. I cared not one rush then, but it makes a difference now. As for
my former line, I am forgotten or worse. I have said blunt things
that there was no call for me to say. No one chooses to have me for an
underling, and there is no more chance of my getting an appointment than
of being made Khan of Tartary. Authorship is all that is left to me.'

'You have done great things in that way,' said Theodora.

'I had made something, but I was obliged to advance it the other day to
get Arthur out of this scrape, and there is no chance of his being able
to pay it, poor fellow!'

'Oh, Percy! thank you more for this than for all. If the p