the property of my
family for seven hundred years, is sadly in need of repair. We lack
too many modern conveniences. My garden wall needs fresh buttresses,
an engine house is necessary to pump water from the well--in short,
the estate needs money. Not having it, I can only adopt the general
principle which is common to all mankind. I endeavour to procure it
from others."

"The prisons of England," Dauncey remarked, "are filled with temporary
visitors who have imbibed the same ideas."

The Marquis gazed at Dauncey as though confronted by some new sort of
natural curiosity to whose appearance in the world he was inclined to
extend a mild but unenthusiastic welcome.

"You have more apprehension than your friend, I am sure, Mr. Pratt,"
he said. "If you will excuse me, I will see that the arrangements for
your departure are in progress."...

It seemed to Jacob that Lady Mary was keeping purposely out of his
way. At a few minutes before the time for their departure, she
appeared, however, and drew him to one side down one of the garden
walks.

"Mr. Pratt," she said, "I don't know what you're thinking of all of
us."

"I know what I'm thinking about one of you, at any rate," he declared
gratefully. "I should have been most unhappy if I had been compelled
to leave without thanking you from the bottom of my heart for your
kindness."

"I am more thankful than I can tell you that I was able to do what I
did," she assured him earnestly, "and I want you, if you can, to set
that as much as possible against my father's shocking breach of the
laws of hospitality. Only he can't help it, poor man. He has a
whimsical attitude towards life which seems unchangeable."

"I shall forget it," Jacob promised. "Thanks to you, nothing serious
occurred."

"There is one thing more," she went on. "Believe me, I am not
approaching this in the same spirit as my father, but if by any chance
you found yourself able to do anything for Jack--in the shape of
employment, I mean--it would be so good for him and such a relief to
me."

"I shall be going to America very shortly," Jacob reflected, "in which
case I shall need some one to help me with my correspondence. Dauncey
will have to stay at home to look after my interests here."

"That would be wonderful," she declared enthusiastically. "Jack really
isn't a fool--in fact he is quite clever in some things--but he does
need steadying down, and I'm so afraid that if nothing happens he will
drif