mperative necessity that pressed
them to secure their position in the world by great alliances. This was
Marion's code: it took three generations to make a family; the first
must be wealthy; the second, by the united force of money and ability,
secure a certain station of power and social influence; the third must
fortify these by marriages,--marriages of distinction, after which mere
time would do the rest.

She had hoped much from her father's second marriage, and was
grievously disappointed on finding how her step-mother's family affected
displeasure at the match as a reason for a coldness towards them; while
Lady Augusta herself as openly showed that she had stooped to the union
merely to secure herself against the accidents of life and raise her
above the misery of living on a very small income.

Jack was thinking moodily over all these things as he sat there, and
with such depression of spirit that he half resolved, instead of staying
out his full leave, to return to his ship at Portsmouth, and so forget
shore life and all its fascinations. He heard the sound of a piano, and
shortly after the rich, delicious tones of Julia's voice. It was that
mellow quality of sound that musicians call mezzo soprano, whose gift it
is to steal softly over the senses and steep them in a sweet rapture
of peaceful delight. As the strains floated out, he felt as though the
measure of incantation was running over for him, and he arose with a
bound, and hurried off into the wood. "I 'll start to-morrow. I 'll not
let this folly master me," muttered he. "A fellow who can't stand up
against his own fancies is not worth his salt. I 'll go on board again
and think of my duty," and he tried to assure himself that of all living
men a sailor had least excuse for such weaknesses as these.

He had not much sympathy with the family ambitions. He thought that as
they had wealth enough to live well and handsomely, a good station in
the world, and not any one detracting element from their good luck,
either as regarded character or health, it was downright ingratitude to
go in search of disappointments and defeats. It was, to his thinking,
like a ship with plenty of sea-room rushing madly on to her ruin amongst
the breakers. "I think Nelly is of my own mind," said he, "but who can
say how long she will continue to be so? these stupid notions of being
great folk will get hold of her at last. The high-minded Marion and
that great genius Temple are ce