rest in. Old Mr. Eldon engaged in speculations--I
believe it was flax-growing. The results, unfortunately, were
anything but satisfactory. It was that which led to his son entering
business--quite a new thing in their family. Wasn't it very sad? Poor
Godfrey and his young wife both drowned! The marriage was, as you may
imagine, not altogether a welcome one to Mrs. Eldon; Mr. Mutimer was
quite a self-made man, quite. I understand he has relations in London of
the very poorest class--labouring people.'

'They probably benefit by his will?'

'I can't say. In any case, to a very small extent. It has for a long
time been understood that Hubert Eldon inherits.'

'Singular!' murmured the clergyman, still in the same absent way.

'Is it not? He took so to the young fellows; no doubt he was flattered
to be allied to them. And then he was passionately devoted to his
daughter; if only for her sake, he would have done his utmost for the
family.'

'I understand that Mr. Mutimer purchased the Manor from them?'

'That was before the marriage. Godfrey Eldon sold it; he had his
father's taste for speculation, I fancy, and wanted capital. Then
Mr. Mutimer begged them to remain in the house. He certainly was a
wonderfully kind old--old gentleman; his behaviour to Mrs. Eldon was
always the perfection of courtesy. A stranger would find it difficult
to understand how she could get on so well with him, but their sorrows
brought them together, and Mr. Mutimer's generosity was really noble.
If I had not known his origin, I should certainly have taken him for a
county gentleman.'

'Yet he proposed to mine in the valley,' observed Mr. Wyvern, half to
himself, casting a glance at the window.

Mrs. Waltham did not at first see the connection between this and
what she had been saying. Then it occurred to her that Mr. Wyvern was
aristocratic in his views.

'To be sure,' she said, 'one expects to find a little of the
original--of the money-making spirit. Of course such a thing would never
have suggested itself to the Eldons. And in fact very little of the
lands remained to them. Mr. Mutimer bought a great deal from other
people.'

As Mr. Wyvern sat brooding, Mrs. Waltham asked--

'You have seen Mrs. Eldon?'

'Not yet. She is too unwell to receive visits.'

'Yes, poor thing, she is a great invalid. I thought, perhaps, you--. But
I know she likes to be very quiet. What a strange thing about Mr.
Eldon, is it not? You know that he has nev