pounds, he did n't know a girl he 'd rather have for a daughter-in-law."

"He did n't tell you that, Ju?" said L'Estrange, growing almost purple
with shame and rage together.

"I pledge you my word he said it."

"And what did you say? What did you do?"

"I wiped my eyes with my handkerchief, and told him it was for the
first time in my life I felt the misery of being poor."

"And I wager that you burst out laughing."

"I did, George. I laughed till my sides ached. I laughed till he rushed
out of the room in a fit of passion, and I declare, I don't think he
ever spoke ten words to me after."

"This gives me scant hope of your chance of success with him."

"I don't know, George. All this happened ten months ago, when he came
down here for the snipe-shooting. He may have forgiven, or better still,
forgotten it. In any case, tell me exactly what I 'm to write, and I 'll
see what I can do with him."

"You're to say that your brother has just heard from a person, in whom
he places the most perfect confidence, say Harding in short--Colonel
Bramleigh's agent--that an enterprise which will shortly be opened here
offers an admirable opportunity of investment, and that as your small
fortune in Consols--"

"In what?"

"No matter. Say that as your two thousand pounds--which now yield an
interest of seventy, could secure you an income fully four times that
sum, you hope he will give his consent to withdraw the money from the
Funds, and employ it in this speculation. I 'd not say speculation, I 'd
call it mine at once--coal-mine."

"But if I own this money, why must I ask Mr. Vickars' leave to make use
of it as I please?"

"He is your trustee, and the law gives him this power, Ju, till you are
nineteen, which you will not be till May next."

"He'll scarcely be disagreeable, when his opposition must end in five
months."

"That's what I think too, but before that five months run over the
share list may be filled, and these debentures be probably double the
present price."

"I 'm not sure I understand your reasoning, but I 'll go and write my
letter, and you shall see if I have said all that you wished."

CHAPTER XIV. OFFICIAL CONFIDENCES.

Lord Culduff accompanied Colonel Bramleigh to town. He wanted a renewal
of his leave, and deemed it better to see the head of the department in
person than to address a formal demand to the office. Colonel Bramleigh,
too, thought that his Lordship's presence might be usefu