ee to his fortunes, so far as you can, without injury to
others,--to your own son?"

"My son! He is provided for. He has the Casino estate--much good may it
do him! You have touched on the very matter that brought me here. This
boy, Randal Leslie, seems a praiseworthy lad, and has Hazeldean blood in
his veins. You have taken him up because he is connected with your late
wife. Why should I not take him up, too, when his grandmother was a
Hazeldean? My main object in calling was to ask what you mean to do for
him; for if you do not mean to provide for him, why, I will, as in duty
bound. So your request comes at the right time; I think of altering my
will. I can put him into the entail, besides a handsome legacy. You are
sure he is a good lad,--and it will please you too, Audley!"

"But not at the expense of your son. And stay, William: as to this
foolish marriage with Madame di Negra,--who told you Frank meant to take
such a step?"

"He told me himself; but it is no matter. Randal and I both did all we
could to dissuade him; and Randal advised me to come to you."

"He has acted generously, then, our kinsman Randal--I am glad to hear
it," said Audley, his brow somewhat clearing. "I have no influence
with this lady; but, at least, I can counsel her. Do not consider the
marriage fixed because a young man desires it. Youth is ever hot and
rash."

"Your youth never was," retorted the squire, bluntly.

"You married well enough, I'm sure. I will say one thing for you: you
have been, to my taste, a bad politician--beg pardon--but you were
always a gentleman. You would never have disgraced your family and
married a--"

"Hush!" interrupted Egerton, gently. "Do not make matters worse than
they are. Madame di Negra is of high birth in her own country; and if
scandal--"

"Scandal!" cried the squire, shrinking, and turning pale. "Are you
speaking of the wife of a Hazeldean? At least she shall never sit by the
hearth at which now sits his mother; and whatever I may do for Frank,
her children shall not succeed. No mongrel cross-breed shall kennel in
English Hazeldean. Much obliged to you, Audley, for your good feeling;
glad to have seen you; and hark ye, you startled me by that shake of
your head, when I spoke of your wealth; and from what you say about
Randal's prospects, I guess that you London gentlemen are not so
thrifty as we are. You shall let me speak. I say again, that I have some
thousands quite at your service. And th