enough, but limited, decidedly limited.

Next came that girl at the stationer's--you remember? She was distinctly
an advance, both in mind and person. Then there was Miss Embleton; yes,
I think she made again an advance. She had been at Bedford College,
you know, and was really a girl of considerable attainments; morally,
admirable. Afterwards--'

He paused.

'The maiden from Birmingham, wasn't it?' said Jasper, again exploding.

'Yes, it was. Well, I can't be quite sure. But in many respects that
girl was my ideal; she really was.'

'As you once or twice told me at the time.'

'I really believe she would rank above Miss Embleton--at all events from
my point of view. And that's everything, you know. It's the effect a
woman produces on one that has to be considered.'

'The next should be a paragon,' said Jasper.

'The next?'

Whelpdale again looked about the room, but added nothing, and fell into
a long silence.

When left to himself Jasper walked about a little, then sat down at his
writing-table, for he felt easier in mind, and fancied that he might
still do a couple of hours' work before going to bed. He did in fact
write half-a-dozen lines, but with the effort came back his former mood.
Very soon the pen dropped, and he was once more in the throes of anxious
mental debate.

He sat till after midnight, and when he went to his bedroom it was with
a lingering step, which proved him still a prey to indecision.

PART FOUR

CHAPTER XXIII. A PROPOSED INVESTMENT

Alfred Yule's behaviour under his disappointment seemed to prove that
even for him the uses of adversity could be sweet. On the day after his
return home he displayed a most unwonted mildness in such remarks as
he addressed to his wife, and his bearing towards Marian was gravely
gentle. At meals he conversed, or rather monologised, on literary
topics, with occasionally one of his grim jokes, pointed for Marian's
appreciation. He became aware that the girl had been overtaxing her
strength of late, and suggested a few weeks of recreation among new
novels. The coldness and gloom which had possessed him when he made a
formal announcement of the news appeared to have given way before the
sympathy manifested by his wife and daughter; he was now sorrowful, but
resigned.

He explained to Marian the exact nature of her legacy. It was to be paid
out of her uncle's share in a wholesale stationery business, with which
John Yule had been connected f