y. "To think that a man can be such a brute as that," he said,
when he heard that Ferdinand Lefroy had shown himself to his wife at St.
Louis,--"only on a spree."

"There is no knowing to what depth utter ruin may reduce a man who has
been born to better things. He falls into idleness, and then comforts
himself with drink. So it seems to have been with him."

"And that other fellow;--do you think he meant to shoot you?"

"Never. But he meant to frighten me. And when he brought out his knife
in the bedroom at Leavenworth he did. My pistol was not loaded."

"Why not?"

"Because little as I wish to be murdered, I should prefer that to
murdering any one else. But he didn't mean it. His only object was to
get as much out of me as he could. As for me, I couldn't give him more
because I hadn't got it." After that they made a league of friendship, and
Mr. Peacocke promised that he would, on some distant occasion, take his
wife with him on a visit to Carstairs.

It was about a month after this that Mary was packed up and sent on her
journey to Carstairs. When that took place, the Doctor was in supreme
good-humour. There had come a letter from the father of the two Mowbrays,
saying that he had again changed his mind. He had, he said, heard a story
told two ways. He trusted Dr. Wortle would understand him and forgive
him, when he declared that he had believed both the stories. If after
this the Doctor chose to refuse to take his boys back again, he would
have, he acknowledged, no ground for offence. But if the Doctor would
take them, he would intrust them to the Doctor's care with the greatest
satisfaction in the world,--as he had done before.

For a while the Doctor had hesitated; but here, perhaps for the first time
in her life, his wife was allowed to persuade him. "They are such leading
people," she said.

"Who cares for that? I have never gone in for that." This, however, was
hardly true. "When I have been sure that a man is a gentleman, I have
taken his son without inquiring much farther. It was mean of him to
withdraw after I had acceded to his request."

"But he withdraws his withdrawal in such a flattering way!" Then the
Doctor assented, and the two boys were allowed to come. Lady Anne
Clifford hearing this, learning that the Doctor was so far willing to
relent, became very piteous and implored forgiveness. The noble relatives
were all willing now. It had not been her fault. As far as sh