ery stiff, went off in
hopes that her morning toilette would deceive her hardworked little
frame into believing it had had a proper night's rest.

She was quite ready to appear at the breakfast table, though her eldest
niece, a long-haired, long-limbed girl, considerably the bigger of the
two, was only too happy to preside over the cups. All the four young
people were in the greatest state of excitement, welcoming, as the
heroes of the night, Mark and Mr. Godfrey, and clamouring to be allowed
to walk down after breakfast with their father and the gentlemen to see
the scene of the catastrophe and the remains of the carriage and the
bridge.

Sir John made a courteous reference to the governess, but there was a
general sense that the cat was away, and presently there was a rush
upstairs to prepare for the walk. Annaple had time in the course of
all the bustle, while the colour came back to her cheeks for a moment,
to tell Mark that her mother had been all that was good, and wanted to
see him.

He must manage to stay till after eleven o'clock; she could not be
ready before. Then he might come to her sitting-room, which, as well
as her bedroom, was on the ground floor.

Mark had to work off his anxiety by an inspection of the scene of the
disaster and a circumstantial explanation of the details to the young
Delmars, who crowded round him and Mr. Godfrey, half awed, half
delighted, and indeed the youngest--a considerable tomboy--had nearly
given the latter the opportunity of becoming a double hero by tumbling
through the broken rail, but he caught her in time, and she only
incurred from Sir John such a scolding as a great fright will produce
from the easiest of fathers.

Afterwards Mark put Gerard on the way to his brother-in-law's living,
asking him on the road so many questions about the umbrella business
that the youth was not quite sure how to take it, and doubted whether
the young swell supposed that he could talk of nothing else; but his
petulance was mitigated when he was asked, 'Supposing a person wished
to enter the business, to whom should he apply?'

'Do you know any one who wishes for anything of the kind?' he asked.
'Are you making inquiries for any one?' and on a hesitating
affirmation, 'Because I know there is an opening for a man with capital
just at present. Dutton won't advertise--'tis so risky; and he wants
some knowledge of a person's antecedents, and whether he is likely to
go into it in a lib