partially paralysed and in a delicate state of health, which the
sad loss of his elder son had done much to render worse. He sent for
Barbara, whom he had known from her childhood, and told her that the
sooner she and Anthony were married the better he would be pleased.

"You see, my dear," he added, "I do not wish the old name to die out
after we have been in this place for three hundred years, and you
Walronds are a healthy stock, which is more than we can say now. Worn
out, I suppose, worn out! In fact," he went on, looking at her sharply,
"it is for you to consider whether you care to take the risks of coming
into this family, for whatever the doctors may or may not say, I think
it my duty to tell you straight out that in my opinion there is some
risk."

"If so, I do not fear it, Mr. Arnott, and I hope you will not put any
such idea into Anthony's head. If you do he might refuse to marry me,
and that would break my heart."

"No, I dare say you do not fear it, but there are other--well, things
must take their course. If we were always thinking of the future no one
would dare to stir."

Then he told her that when first he heard of their mutual attachment he
had been much disturbed, as he did not see how they were to marry.

"But poor George's death has changed all that," he said, "since now
Anthony will get the estate, which is practically the only property we
have, and it ought always to produce enough to keep you going and to
maintain the place in a modest way."