could n't face it. Stand by him,
then, and get him through it. Have patience; just hear what I have to
say. The thing can be done; there 's eight days to come before it can
be brought on. I know the money-lender has three of Norton's
acceptances--for heavy sums, two of them. Do you see now what I'm
driving at?"

"I may possibly see so much, sir, but I am unable to see why I should
move in the matter."

"I 'll show you, then. The noble Viscount is much smitten by a certain
young lady upstairs, and intends to propose for her. Yes, I know it, and
I 'll vouch for it. Your eldest daughter may be a peeress, and though
the husband isn't very young, neither is the title. I think he said
he was the eighth lord,--seventh or eighth, I 'm not sure which,--and
taking the rank and the coal-mine together, don't you think she might do
worse?"

"I will say, sir, that frankness like yours I've never met before."

"That's the very thing I 'd like to hear you say of me. There's no
quality I pride myself on so much as my candor."

"You have ample reason, sir."

"I feel it. I know it. Direct lines and a wide gauge--I mean in the way
of liberality,--that 's my motto. I go straight to my terminus, wherever
it is."

"It is not every man can make his profession the efficient ally of his
morality."

"An engineer can, and there 's nothing so like life as a new line of
railroad. But to come back. You see now how the matter stands. If the
arrangement suits you, the thing can be done."

"You have a very business-like way of treating these themes."

"If I had n't, I could n't treat them at all. What I say to myself
is, Will it pay? first of all; and secondly, How much will it pay? And
that's the one test for everything. Have the divines a more telling
argument against a life of worldliness and self-indulgence than when
they ask, Will it pay? We contract for everything, even for going to
heaven."

"If I could hope to rival your eminently practical spirit, Mr. Cutbill,
I 'd ask how far--to what extent--has Lord Culduff made you the
confidant of his intentions?"

"You mean, has he sent me here this evening to make a proposal to you?"

"No, not exactly that; but has he intimated, has he declared--for
intimation would n't suffice--has he declared his wish to be allied to
my family?"

"He did n't say, 'Cutbill, go down and make a tender in my name for
her,' if you mean that."

"I opine not, sir," said Bramleigh, haughtily.

"But when