that there is no gratification so costly as that of keeping out
of debt. But then it is only fair that, if a man has a hobby, he
should pay for it. Any one else would have saved his shilling, as
Mrs. Harold Smith's house was only just across Oxford Street, in the
neighbourhood of Hanover Square; but Mr. Sowerby never thought of
this. He had never saved a shilling in his life, and it did not occur
to him to begin now. He had sent word to her to remain at home for
him, and he now found her waiting. "Harriet," said he, throwing
himself back into an easy chair, "the game is pretty well up at
last."

"Nonsense," said she. "The game is not up at all if you have the
spirit to carry it on."

"I can only say that I got a formal notice this morning from the
duke's lawyer, saying that he meant to foreclose at once;--not from
Fothergill, but from those people in South Audley Street."

"You expected that," said his sister.

"I don't see how that makes it any better; besides, I am not quite
sure that I did expect it; at any rate I did not feel certain. There
is no doubt now."

"It is better that there should be no doubt. It is much better that
you should know on what ground you have to stand."

"I shall soon have no ground to stand on, none at least of my
own--not an acre," said the unhappy man, with great bitterness in his
tone.

"You can't in reality be poorer now than you were last year. You
have not spent anything to speak of. There can be no doubt that
Chaldicotes will be ample to pay all you owe the duke."

"It's as much as it will; and what am I to do then? I almost think
more of the seat than I do of Chaldicotes."

"You know what I advise," said Mrs. Smith. "Ask Miss Dunstable to
advance the money on the same security which the duke holds. She will
be as safe then as he is now. And if you can arrange that, stand for
the county against him; perhaps you may be beaten."

"I shouldn't have a chance."

"But it would show that you are not a creature in the duke's hands.
That's my advice," said Mrs. Smith, with much spirit; "and if you
wish, I'll broach it to Miss Dunstable, and ask her to get her lawyer
to look into it."

"If I had done this before I had run my head into that other
absurdity!"

"Don't fret yourself about that; she will lose nothing by such an
investment, and therefore you are not asking any favour of her.
Besides, did she not make the offer? and she is just the woman to do
this for you now, beca