business about the mortgage. Will you write to Mr. Borley, and convey
Mr. Heigham's decision? And perhaps"--addressing Arthur--"you will do
the same on your own account."

"Certainly I will write, Caresfoot; and now I think that I must be
off. Her ladyship does not like having to sit up for me."

George laughed in a peculiarly insulting way.

"I don't think she would care much, Bellamy, if you stayed away all
night. But look here, tell her I want to see her to-morrow; don't
forget."

Sir John bit his knightly lip, but answered, smiling, that he would
remember, and begging George not to ring, as his trap was at the hall-
door, and the servant waiting, he bade an affectionate good-night to
Arthur, to whom he expressed a hope that they would soon meet again,
and let himself out of the room. But, as soon as the door was closed,
he went through another performance exceedingly inappropriate in a
knight. Turning round, his smug face red with anger, he pirouetted on
his toes, and shook his fist violently in the direction of the door.

"You scoundrel!" he said between his teeth, "you have made a fool of
me for twenty years, and I have been obliged to grin and bear it; but
I will be even with you yet, and her too, more especially her."

So soon as Sir John had left, Arthur told his host that, if the
morning was fine, he proposed to go and fish in Bratham Lake, and that
he also proposed to take his departure by the last train on the
following evening. To these propositions George offered no objection--