BARREN HlONOUR.



ger. and his voice rang out again, bold
and musical and clear.
  " Don't speak so despondingly, Alan.
My weakness has infected you, I sup-
pose I don't wonder at it. I am not
often so cowardly; indeed it is the first
time I have broken down so, and I think
it will be long before I disgrace mvself
so again. Yes, you would help me if
you could, just as I would help you. I
know you, boy, and the race you come
of. Bon sany ne peut mentir. What-
ever happens, I shall never repent hav-
ing given you Helen. But I want you
to see your line clearly; it isn't all open
country before you. Listen. I am cer-
tain 'my lady' has some projects in
her head. She thinks her daughter fair
enough to be made the pillar and prop
of our family edifice. (Poor child! that
slender neck would break under half
such a burden.) Now, if either of the
young ones is to be turned into an At-
las, surely Max ought to take the part.
But he is too proud, or too indolent, or
too fond of his comforts, to give him-
self any trouble in the matter. Faith, I
like him the better for it. I think I
would rather see the old house go to
ruin respectably than propped by Man-
chester money-bags. Que diable! Each
one to his taste. I don't imagine that
your aunt's visions have assumed shape
or substance yet. The coming son-in-
law and his millions are still in cloud-
land, where I hope for all our sakes
they will remain. For my own part, if
Crcesus were to woo and win Helen to-
morrow, I don't see how it would help
us much; besides, it is quite probable
that he would have gone away-rejected.
If you had never spoken, you cannot
suppose that I would have seen her
sacrificed. Still I warn you that her
ladyship has some ideas of the sort float-
ing on her diplomatic brain, so you must
not he disappointed if her consent and
concurrence are not quite so heartily
given as mine."
  "I have a great respect for Aunt
Mildred's sagacity," Wyverne answered
gravely; "1 whatever policy she might
adopt I am sure would be founded on
sound principles, and carried out wisely
and welL It is very rash to run coun-



ter to any plan of hers, even if it be in
embryo; I doubt if one ought even to
hope for success. My dear uncle, every
word you say makes me feel more keenly
how wrongly I acted this unlucky after
noon."
  The Squire held out his hand again;
the strong, honest grasp tingled through
every fibre of the other's frame, bring-
ing hope and encouragement with it,
like a draught of some rare cordial.
  "Alan, I have heard of manv rash
and wild deeds of yours, never of one
that made you unworthy of your blood
or mine. It would be rather too good
if I were to cast mere extravagance in
your teeth. I wont hear any more evil
auguries or self-reproaches. My word
is passed, and I shall not take it back
again till you or Helen ask me to do so.
We will talk more of your prospects
another time. As long as I live you will
do well enough; afterwards-wve shall
see. Thank God, she is the only child
I have to provide for. Don't be down-
hearted, boy! The Vavasours of Dene
are a tough, tenacious race, and die hard,
if all tales are true; we are not aux abois
yet. 'Vast are the resources of futu-
rity,' as some great and good man ob-
served; perhaps we shall pull through,
after all. At any rate, we will not be
tormented before our time. The thing
which is most on my mind at this mo
ment is-who is to tell this afternoon's
work to ' my lady"'
  The Squire's bright blue eyes were
glittering with suppressed humour as he
said the last words, merrily, as if he had
never heard of such things as troubles
or mortgages.  Alan could not help
smiling at his uncle's evident eagerness
to be spared the responsibility of am-
bassador.
  " I fancy the worst is known to my
poor aunt an hour ago. Helen went
straight to the boudoir when we came
in; she wished to tell everything her-
self, and immediately. It is the best
way. Poor child! I hope she has had
half the suceess that I have met with;
one cannot count on such good fortune,
though."
  Vavasour's face was radiant with sat-
isfaction, it was an unspeakable relief to



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