by a message that Mr. Crabbe would be
glad of a few minutes with him.

"Was there any fresh annoyance about the Hydriots?" I asked, when he
came back.

"Oh, no! The rascal is come over to my side. What do you think he
wanted to say? That he had been to look at my grandfather's will, and
he thinks you could drive a coach and horses through it; and he
proposes to me to upset it, and come in as heir-at-law! The scoundrel!"

"After all," I said, after a pause, "it would be very good for poor
Arghouse if you thought it right."

"_I_ should not be very good for Arghouse if I did such a thing as
that," returned Harold. "No, poor old Eu, I'm not going to disturb him
because he has got out of my hands, and I think she will take care of
the people. I daresay I bullied him more than was bearable."

Would Harold have so forgiven even Eustace's ingratitude three years
ago?

CHAPTER XIV.

SUNSET GOLD AND PURPLE.

We had a happy time after that; our Sunday was a very glad and peaceful
one, with our thanksgiving in the morning, and Dora's pleasure in the
dear old children's service in the afternoon. Poor child, she liked
everything that she had only submitted to when she was with us, and
Harold took her away on the Monday in a more resigned frame of mind,
with a kind of promise that she would be good if the Horsmans would let
her.

Then came the removal, and I must say there was some compensation for
the pain of leaving my old home in that sense of snugness and liberty
in our new plenishing, rather like the playing at doll's houses. We
had stable room for Harold's horse and my pony--the kangaroo, alas! had
pined and died the winter that Harold was away; the garden was
practicable, and the rooms were capable of being made home-like and
pleasant.

The Tracys were out of reach for the present. Dermot was gone to
Ireland, and Lady Diana and her daughter were making a long round of
visits among friends, so that there was nothing for it but waiting, and
as it was hopeful waiting, enlivened by Viola's letters to me, Harold
endured it very happily, having indeed much to think about.

There was Prometesky's health. It was ascertained that he must undergo
an operation, and when we found that all the requisite skill could be
had near at hand, I overruled the scruples about alarming or
distressing me. I knew that it would be better for him to be watched
by George Yolland, and for Harold to be at home, and I had c