he threatened to marry
this woman if his income was cut off. He carried his point, too; for no
alteration has been made in his allowance. Indeed, as he has money of
his own, and as part of the property is entailed, it would be easier to
irritate him uselessly than to subject him to any material deprivation."

"The young scamp! I wonder he was clever enough to take advantage like
that."

"He has shewn no lack of acuteness of late. I suspect he is under shrewd
guidance."

"Have you ever seen the--the guidance?"

"Not in person. I seldom enter a theatre now. But I am of course
familiar with her appearance from the photographic portraits of her.
They are in all the shop windows."

"Yes. I think I have noticed them."

"And now, Mrs. Douglas, I fear I have paid you a very long visit."

"Why dont you come oftener?"

"I wish I could find time. I have not so much leisure for enjoyment as I
used."

"I am not so sure of that. But we are always glad to have a chat with
one another, I know. We are agreed about the dear children, I think?"

"Cordially. Cordially. Good-bye."

"Good-bye."

CHAPTER VIII

On the morning of the first Friday in May Marian received this letter:

"Uxbridge Road, Holland Park, W.

"DEAR MISS LIND: I must begin by explaining why I make this
communication to you by letter instead of orally. It is because I
am about to ask you to do me a favor. If you asked me to do
anything for you, then, no matter how much my judgment might
protest against my compliance, I could not without pain to myself
refuse you face to face. I have no right to assume that your heart
would plead on my behalf against your head in this fashion; but, on
the other hand--the wish is father to the thought here--I have no
right to assume that it would not. Therefore, to spare you all
influences except the fair ones of your own interest and
inclination, I make my proposal in writing. You will please put the
usual construction on the word 'proposal.' What I desire is your
consent to marry me. If your first impulse now is to refuse, I beg
you to do so in plain terms at once, and destroy this letter
without reading further. If you think, on the contrary, that we
could achieve a future as pleasant as our past association has
been--to me at least, here is what, as I think, you have to
consider.

"You are a lady, rich, well-born, beautiful, loved by ma