From his wife he heard all that took place; and though he was grieved,
he expressed no anger. He could not feel himself justified in expressing
anger because his nephew chose to remain for yet a year attached to his
profession. "Who knows what may happen to him?" said the Countess.

"Ah, indeed! But we are all in the hands of the Almighty." And the
Earl bowed his head. Lady Scroope, fully recognizing the truth of her
husband's pious ejaculation, nevertheless thought that human care might
advantageously be added to the divine interposition for which, as she
well knew, her lord prayed fervently as soon as the words were out of
his mouth.

"But it would be so great a thing if he could be settled. Sophia
Mellerby has promised to come here for a couple of months in the winter.
He could not possibly do better than that."

"The Mellerbys are very good people," said the Earl. "Her grandmother,
the duchess, is one of the very best women in England. Her mother, Lady
Sophia, is an excellent creature,--religious, and with the soundest
principles. Mr. Mellerby, as a commoner, stands as high as any man in
England."

"They have held the same property since the wars of the roses. And then
I suppose the money should count for something," added the lady.

Lord Scroope would not admit the importance of the money, but was quite
willing to acknowledge that were his heir to make Sophia Mellerby the
future Lady Scroope he would be content. But he could not interfere.
He did not think it wise to speak to young men on such a subject. He
thought that by doing so a young man might be rather diverted from than