BARREN HONOUR.



bolically. Well, it's no use beating
about the bush or making half confes-
sions. Here is the truth in six words:
a quarter of a million would hardly
clear us. They said I gave up the
hounds because I had got too heavy to
ride up to them; perhaps you will guess
if that was the real reason. It was
more as a sop to keep my conscience
quiet than anything else though; for
pound;3,000 a year saved only keeps a lit-
tle interest down, and leaves the prin-
cipal as big and black as ever. When
Max came of age, it was absolutely ne-
cessary to make some arrangement. We
cut off the entail of all property, sold
some outlying farms, and replaced the
old mortgages by new ones on rather
better terms.  But-we raised more
money. Max owed seven or eight thou-
sand, and I wanted nearly as much to
go on with. He behaved very well
about it, only binding me down by one
stipulation-that I should cut no tim-
ber; for it was suggested then that
pound;30,000 worth might be felled and
scarcely missed. He had a fancy, that
whether Dene stayed with us or passed
away to others, it should keep its green
wreath unshorn. It looks as if there
were some sympathetic link between
our fortunes and our forests-we have
cherished and spared them so for cen-
turies: if any White Lady (like her
of Avenel) watches over our house, I
am very sure she is a Dryad. Alan,
the worst is still to tell."
  He paused for a minute or so, clearing
his throat once or twice nervously, all to
no purpose, for when he spoke again his
voice was strangely husky and uncertain.
  "You don't know much of Newman-
ham the greatest iron-founder. There
is one Schmidt, a German Jew, whose
father was naturalized. They say he is
worth half a million. When a man of
the people has made money up to that
mark, he is always mad to invest in
land. Only six months ago, I found
out that Schmidt had bought up every
shilling of mortgage on this property,
and-and-by G-d, I believe he means
to foreclose."
  The Squire stopped again, and then
broke out into a harsh unnatural laugh.



  " The patriarch knows where to pich
his tent, doesn't he, Alan His spies
have searched out the length and breadth
of the land already, and I dare say he
knows as much about the woods now
as I do. His lines will fall in pleasant
places when he has cast out the IHittite.
Dene would be no bad spot to found a
family in. Twenty quarterings ought
to leave savour enough about the) grey
walls to drown somewhat of the New-
manham fumier. Leah has beeit pro-
lific, they tell me. The picture gallery
will be a nice place for the little Isreal-
ites to disport themselves in in bad
weather, and the Crusaders and Cava-
liers will look down benevolently on
' the young Caucasians all at play.'
Perhaps he will offer something hand-
some to be allowed to take our name.
Faith, he may have it! I don't see
why we should keep that to ourselves
when all the rest is gone."
  The bitter laugh ended in something
like a sob, and the lofty head sank down
lower still. Looking on Wyverne's col-
ourless face, you would not have guessed
that its pallor could deepen so intensely
as it did when any strong emotion pos-
sessed him. During the last five min-
utes it had grown whiter by several
shades.
  ' It is punishment enough for all my
faults and follies," he said, " to be forced
to listen to such words as these, and to
feel myself utterly helpless and useless.
Uncle Hubert, I remember, when every
one thought my ruin was complete, you
came the first to offer help, and you
never dreamt of taking interest by ma-
king me listen to advice or reproaches.
Now I hear of your troubles for the first
time, and I find that I have come in,
seasonably to add another grave embar-
rassment. What a luxury benevolence
must be, when it meets with such a
prompt return. If you knew how I hate
myself!"
  The elasticity of Vavasour's gallant
spirit had quite shaken off bv this time
the momentary depression of which he
was already heartily ashamed. He threw
back his statelv head with a gesture full
of haughty grace, as if about to con-
front a palpable enemy or physical dan-



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