r to have sustained any
increase of malady from this trying event. I need not tell you the great
disparity of age between my sister and her husband: a disparity which I
own enlisted me amongst those who opposed the match. Marion, however,
so firmly insisted on her right to choose for herself, and her fortune
being completely at her own disposal, that all continued opposition
would have been not alone unavailing for the present, but a source of
coldness and estrangement for the future.

"'The Culduffs'--(how sweetly familiar)--'the Culduffs left this for
Paris this day, where I believe they intend to remain till the question
of Lord Culduff's post is determined on. My sister ardently hopes it may
be in Italy, as she is most desirous to be near you.'

"Can you imagine such a horror as this woman playing daughter to me, and
yet going in to dinner before me, and making me feel her rank on
every possible occasion! All this here I see is business,--nothing but
business. The Colonel, it would seem, must have been breaking before
they suspected, for all his late speculations have turned out ill.
Penstyddin Copper Mine is an utter failure; the New Caledonian Packet
Line a smash; and there 's a whole list of crippled enterprises. It 's
very nice of Augustus, however, to say that, though he mentions these
circumstances, which might possibly reach me through other channels, no
event that he could contemplate should in any way affect my income, or
any increase of it that I deem essential to my comfort or convenience;
and although in total ignorance as he is of all transactions of the
house, he begs me to write to himself directly when any question of
increased expense should arise--which I certainly will. He 's a _buon
figliuolo_, Dolly, that must be said, and it would be shameful not to
develop such generous instincts.

"'If my father's illness should be unhappily protracted, means must be
taken, I believe, to devolve his share in business matters upon some
other. I regret that it cannot possibly be upon myself; but I am totally
unequal to the charge, and have not, besides, courage for the heavy
responsibility.'

"That's the whole of it," said she, with a sigh; "and all things
considered, it might have been worse."

CHAPTER XXVIII. CASTELLO.

Castello had now become a very dreary abode. Lord and Lady Culduff had
taken their departure for Paris. Temple had gone up to town to try and
manage an exchange, if by good luck a