see the condition of
things is quite altered. Really, some of our best women marry rich men
who have nothing particular to boast of in the way of pedigree. I can
call a dozen cases to mind."

"Yes," May retorted. "And I can call a dozen cases to mind where you
have expressed the strongest indignation with parents who have
encouraged marriages of that sort. You have stigmatized the thing as a
sale. Why, you refused to shake hands with Lord Middlebourne when he
told you that his daughter was going to marry young Blackley. Yet, in
the face of all this, you entered into a conspiracy with Mr. Copley, a
conspiracy which you must know would be fatal to my happiness."

"You, you didn't refuse him?" Sir George gasped.

"Refuse him! Of course I did. I hope I did not say too much. But I let
him know that the thing was impossible. I told him that in no
circumstances could I become his wife. I have felt that this was coming
for some time, and I blame myself for permitting things to go so far.
Mr. Copley took it very badly. He lost his temper. He threatened me. He
even went so far as to say that, unless I thought better of my reply, he
would turn us out of Haredale Park."

Sir George turned a white and anxious face towards his daughter.

"Did he say that?" he asked hoarsely.

"I have already told you so. But, of course, this is ridiculous. You
would never have been so foolish as to place yourself in the power of a
man like Mr. Copley. It is very well to know such people, and I daresay
you have found him useful in business. But as to the rest---- Why do you
look at me like that? You don't mean to say that his story is actually
true?"

Sir George seemed to have some difficulty in speaking. When at length
the words came they were free enough.

"It is true," he said. "My dear child, you must not blame me unduly. I
have been terribly unfortunate of late. Everything I have touched has
gone wrong. I am almost afraid to look at my betting book, and if the
Blenheim colt does not win the Derby, then I shall be something worse
than a pauper. You don't know what hopes I build upon this. If it comes
off all right we shall be rich and prosperous. But it has been an awful
struggle to keep my head above water so far, and when Copley offered to
help me in an open-handed way, I dared not refuse. Of course, I had not
the least idea then that he had given you even more than a passing
thought. It never occurred to me that he was lending me this