phie Mellerby. They had now become
intimate and almost attached to each other as friends. If she had
allowed a spark of hope to become bright within her heart in regard to
the young Earl that had long since been quenched. She had acknowledged
to herself that had it been possible in other respects they would not
have suited each other,--and now they were friends.

"I love your aunt dearly and have been very glad to be with her."

"I wish you would learn to love somebody else dearly."

"Perhaps I shall, some day,--somebody else; though I don't at all know
who it may be."

"You knew whom I mean."

"I suppose I do."

"And why not love him? Isn't he a good fellow?"

"One can't love all the good fellows, Lord Scroope."

"You'll never find a better one than he is."

"Did he commission you to speak for him?"

"You know he didn't. You know that he would be the last man in the world
to do so?"

"I was surprised."

"But I had a reason for speaking."

"No doubt."

"I don't suppose it will have any effect with you;--but it is something
you ought to know. If any man of my age can be supposed to have made up
his mind on such a matter, you may believe that I have made up my mind
that I will--never marry."

"What nonsense, Lord Scroope."

"Well;--yes; perhaps it is. But I am so convinced of it myself that I
shall ask my brother to come and live here--permanently,--as master of
the place. As he would have to leave his regiment it would of course be
necessary that his position here should be settled,--and it shall be
settled."

"I most sincerely hope that you will always live here yourself."

"It won't suit me. Circumstances have made it impossible. If he will not
do so, nor my aunt, the house must be shut up. I am most anxious that
this should not be done. I shall implore him to remain here, and to be
here exactly as I should have been,--had things with me not have been so
very unfortunate. He will at any rate have a house to offer you, if--"

"Lord Scroope!"

"I know what you are going to say, Sophie."

"I don't know that I am as yet disposed to marry for the sake of a house
to shelter me."

"Of course you would say that; but still I think that I have been right
to tell you. I am sure you will believe my assurance that Jack knows
nothing of all this."

That same evening he said nearly the same thing to his brother, though
in doing so he made no special allusion to Sophie Mellerby. "I know that
there is a