her to be all that is good and pure and true."

"What is the wrong that she has done you?"

Gilbert told Jacob Nowell the story of his engagement, and the bitter
disappointment which had befallen him on his return from Australia. The
old man listened with every appearance of interest. He approved of
Gilbert's notion of advertising for the particulars of a possible
marriage, and offered to bear his part in the expenses of the search for
his granddaughter.

Gilbert smiled at this offer.

"You do not know what a worthless thing money is to me now," he said, "or
now lightly I hold my own trouble or loss in this matter."

He left Queen Anne's Court soon after this, after having promised Jacob
Nowell to return and report progress so soon as there should be anything
worth telling. He went back to Wigmore Street heavy-hearted, depressed by
the reaction that followed the vain hope which the silversmith's letter
had inspired. It mattered little to him to know the antecedents of
Marian's father, while Marian's destiny remained still hidden from him.




CHAPTER XI.

THE MARRIAGE AT WYGROVE.