mined to get rid of Dick. Indeed Dick had been got rid of
partially, and had begun to talk of going to Canada or the Cannibal
Islands, by way of beginning the work of his life. Then Sir Francis
had been jilted, and Dick had again become indispensable to him. But
Dick had ever had a nasty way of speaking his mind and blowing up his
patron, which sometimes became very oppressive to the Baronet. And
now at the present moment he was more angry with him for what he had
said as to Miss Altifiorla than for his remarks as to his conduct to
the other lady. All that was simply severe in Dick's words he took
for a compliment. If Dick found fault with his practice he at any
rate acknowledged his success. But his remarks as to the second lady
had been very uncourteous. He had declared that she with the Italian
name was a worse devil even than himself, and had warned him not
to marry the fiend. Now he had nearly made up his mind that he
would marry her. With all the ladies with whom he had hitherto been
connected he had become aware that, in marrying them, he must more
or less alter his manner of life. With Miss Altifiorla no such
alteration would be necessary. He attributed a certain ease which she
possessed to her Italian blood, and thought that he would be able
to get on with her very comfortably. To marry was imperative with
him,--because of his cousin. But he thought that were he to marry
Miss Altifiorla he might continue to live his ordinary life almost
without interruption. He had considered that in doing so he need not
even dismiss Dick Ross. But now, in consequence partly of the great
discourtesy of Dick's remarks and partly from his strong inclination
for Miss Altifiorla, he began to think that after all Dick had better
go. Just at this moment Dick's fortunes were, he knew, very low. One
sum of money had been lost at cards, and another sum of money had not
come. Dick's funds were almost absolutely worn out. But that was only
a reason the more for parting with him. He did not care to have to
deal with a man who had to wear out his old clothes in his house
because he had not credit with his tailor to get a new coat and
trousers. He thought that he would part with Dick; but he had not
quite made up his mind when he sat down to write his letter to Miss
Altifiorla.

"My dear Miss Altifiorla," he said. "I really don't see that you
have any reason to blow me up as you do about 'poor Cecilia.' I do
not think that poor Cecilia has