t I believe
nothing--absolutely nothing--of these impending calamities? There is no
sword suspended over us; or if there be, it is by a good strong cord,
which will last our time. There are always plenty of dark stories in the
City. Shares fall, and great houses tumble; but papa told me scores of
times that he never put all his eggs into one basket; and Bramleigh and
Underwood will be good names for many a day to come. Shall I tell you,
my dear Augustus, what I suspect to be the greatest danger that now
hangs over us? And I am quite ready to admit it is a heavy one."

"What is it?"

"The peril _I_ mean is that your sister Nelly will marry the curate.
Oh, you may look shocked and incredulous, and cry impossible, if you
like; but we girls are very shrewd detectives over each other, and what
I tell you is only short of certainty."

"He has not a shilling in the world; nor has she, independently of my
father."

"That's the reason. That's the reason. These are the troths that are
never broken. There is nothing aids fidelity like beggary."

"He has neither friends nor patrons; he told me himself he has not the
vaguest hope of advancement."

"Exactly so; and just for that they will be married. Now it reminds me,"
said she, aloud, "of what papa once said to me. The man who wants to
build up a name and a family ought to have few children. With a large
household, some one or other will make an unhappy alliance, and one
deserter disgraces the army."

"A grave consideration for Lord Culduff at this moment," said he, with a
humorous twinkle of the eye.

"We have talked it over already," said she.

"Once for all, Marion, no confidences about what I have been talking
of." And so saying, he went his way.

CHAPTER XXVI. MR. CUTBILL ARRIVES AT CASTELLO.

On the eve of that day on which the conversation in the last chapter
occurred, Mr Cutbill arrived at Castello. He came full of town news. He
brought with him the latest scandals of society, and the last events in
politics; he could tell of what was doing in Downing Street, and what
was about to be done in the City. In fact, he had the sort of budget
that was sure to amuse a country audience; and yet, to his astonishment,
he found none to question, none even to listen to him. Colonel
Bramleigh's illness had thrown a gloom over all. The girls relieved
each other in watches beside their father, and Augustus and Temple dined
together alone, as Lord Culduff's gout still de