Miss Marrable heard the story of the Captain’s loss in perfect silence. Mary told it craftily¹, with a smile on her face, as though she were but slightly affected² by it, and did not think very much on the change it might effect in her plans and those of her lover. “He has been ill-treated; has he not?” she said.

“Very badly treated. I can’t understand it, but it seems to me that he has been most shamefully³ treated.”

“He tried to explain it all to me; but I don’t know that he succeeded.”

“Why did the lawyers deceive him?”

“I think he was a little rash there. He took what they told him for more than it was worth. There was some woman who said that she would resign her claim; but when they came to look into it, she too had signed some papers and the money was all gone. He could recover it from his father by law, only that his father has got nothing.”

“And that is to be the end of it.”

“That is the end of our five thousand pounds,” said Mary, forcing a little laugh. Miss Marrable for a few moments made no reply. She sat fidgety in her seat, feeling that it was her duty to explain to Mary what must, in her opinion, be the inevitable⁴ result of this misfortune, and yet not knowing how to begin her task. Mary was partly aware of what was coming, and had fortified⁵ herself to reject all advice, to assert her right to do as she pleased with herself, and to protest that she cared nothing for the prudent⁶ views of worldly-minded people. But she was afraid of what was coming. She knew that arguments would be used which she would find it very difficult to answer; and, although she had settled upon certain strong words which she would speak, she felt that she would be driven at last to quarrel with her aunt. On one thing she was quite resolved. Nothing should induce her to give up her engagement,—short of the expression of a wish to that effect from Walter Marrable himself.

“How will this affect you, dear?” said Miss Marrable at last.

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