ble. He should have her money, and then, when the day
came, some escape should be found.

In the afternoon her father came to her, and it may be as well to
explain that Mr Grey had seen him again that day. Mr Grey, when he
left Queen Anne Street, had gone to his lawyer, and from thence had
made his way to Mr Vavasor. It was between five and six when Mr
Vavasor came back to his house, and he then found his daughter
sitting over the drawing-room fire, without lights, in the gloom
of the evening. Mr Vavasor had returned with Grey to the lawyer's
chambers, and had from thence come direct to his own house. He had
been startled at the precision with which all the circumstances
of his daughter's position had been explained to a mild-eyed old
gentleman, with a bald head, who carried on his business in a narrow,
dark, clean street, behind Doctors' Commons. Mr Tombe was his name.
"No;" Mr Grey had said, when Mr Vavasor had asked as to the peculiar
nature of Mr Tombe's business; "he is not specially an ecclesiastical
lawyer. He had a partner at Ely, and was always employed by my
father, and by most of the clergy there." Mr Tombe had evinced no
surprise, no dismay, and certainly no mock delicacy, when the whole
affair was under discussion. George Vavasor was to get present
moneys, but,--if it could be so arranged--from John Grey's stores
rather than from those belonging to Alice. Mr Tombe could probably
arrange that with Mr Vavasor's lawyer, who would no doubt be able to
make difficulty as to raising ready money. Mr Tombe would be able
to raise ready money without difficulty. And then, at last, George
Vavasor was to be made to surrender his bride, taking or having taken
the price of his bargain. John Vavasor sat by in silence as the
arrangement was being made, not knowing how to speak. He had no money
with which to give assistance. "I wish you to understand from the
lady's father," Grey said to the lawyer, "that the marriage would be
regarded by him with as much dismay as by myself."

"Certainly;--it would be ruinous," Mr Vavasor had answered.

"And you see, Mr Tombe," Mr Grey went on, "we only wish to try the
man. If he be not such as we believe him to be, he can prove it by
his conduct. If he is worthy of her, he can then take her."

"You merely wish to open her eyes, Mr Grey," said the mild-eyed
lawyer.

"I wish that he should have what money he wants, and then we shall
find what it is he really wishes."

"Yes; we shall