er. "If I
had been used all my life to the strictest economies, perhaps I might
do so. Some men do, no doubt; but I am too old to begin it. There is
the choice of two things,--to blow my brains out, or go back."

"You are not such a coward as that."

"I don't know. I ain't sure that it would be cowardice. If there were
anybody I could injure by doing it, it would be cowardly."

"The family," suggested Mary.

"What does Sir Gregory care for me? I'll show you his letter to me
some day. I don't think it would be cowardly at all to get away from
such a lot."

"I am sure you won't do that, Captain Marrable."

"Think what it is to know that your father is a swindler. Perhaps
that is the worst of it all. Fancy talking or thinking of one's
family after that. I like my uncle John. He is very kind, and has
offered to lend me L150, which I'm sure he can't afford to lose, and
which I am too honest to take. But even he hardly sees it. He calls
it a misfortune, and I've no doubt would shake hands with his brother
to-morrow."

"So would you, if he were really sorry."

"No, Mary; nothing on earth shall ever induce me to set my eyes on
him again willingly. He has destroyed all the world for me. He should
have had half of it without a word. When he used to whine to me in
his letters, and say how cruelly he had been treated, I always made
up my mind that he should have half the income for life. It was
because he should not want till I came home that I enabled him to do
what he has done. And now he has robbed me of every cursed shilling!
I wonder whether I shall ever get my mind free from it."

"Of course you will."

"It seems now that my heart is wrapped in lead." As they were coming
home she put her hand upon his arm, and asked him to promise her to
withdraw that threat.

"Why should I withdraw it? Who cares for me?"

"We all care. My aunt cares. I care."

"The threat means nothing, Mary. People who make such threats don't
carry them out. Of course I shall go on and endure it. The worst of
all is, that the whole thing makes me so unmanly,--makes such a beast
of me. But I'll try to get over it."

Mary Lowther thought that, upon the whole, he bore his misfortune
very well.

CHAPTER XIV.

COUSINHOOD.

Mary Lowther and her cousin had taken their walk together on Monday
evening, and on the next morning she received the following letter
from Mrs. Fenwick. When it reached her she had as yet heard nothing
of the