They went on to the future. Thomas spoke of the selling up of all things, of their turning out of Ashlydyat. "Is that decree irrevocable?"

Lord Averil interrupted. "Must Ashlydyat be sold?"

Thomas was surprised at the question. It was so superfluous a one. "It will be sold very shortly," he said, "to the highest bidder. Any stranger who bids most will get Ashlydyat. I hope," he added, with a half start, as if the possibility occurred to him then for the first time, "that the man Verrall will not become a bidder for it--and get it!

Lady G.o.dolphin turns him out of the Folly."

"Never fear," said Lord Averil. "He will only be too glad to relieve Prior's Ash of his presence. Thomas, can nothing be done to the man?

Your brother may have been a willing tool in his hands, but broad whispers are going about that it is Verrall who has reaped the harvest.

Can no legal cognizance be taken of it?"

Thomas shook his head. "We may suspect a great deal--in fact, it is more than suspicion--but we can prove nothing. The man will rise triumphantly from it all, and carry his head higher than ever. I hope, I say, that he will not think of Ashlydyat. They were in it once, you know."

"Why could not Ashlydyat be disposed of privately?--by valuation? It might be, if the a.s.signees approved."

"Yes, I suppose it might be."

"I wish you would sell it to me," breathed Lord Averil.

"To you!" repeated Thomas G.o.dolphin. "Ay, indeed. Were you to have Ashlydyat I should the less keenly regret its pa.s.sing from the G.o.dolphins."

Lord Averil paused. He appeared to want to say something, but to hesitate in doubt.

"Would it please you that one of the G.o.dolphins should still inhabit it?" he asked at length.

"I do not understand you?" replied Thomas. "There is no chance--I had almost said no possibility--of a G.o.dolphin henceforward inhabiting Ashlydyat."

"I hope and trust there is," said Lord Averil with emotion. "If Ashlydyat is ever to be mine, I shall not care for it unless a G.o.dolphin shares it with me. I speak of your sister Cecilia."

Thomas sat in calmness, waiting for more. Nothing could stir him greatly now. Lord Averil gave him the outline of the past. Of his love for Cecilia, and her rejection of him.

"There has been something," he continued, "in her manner of late, which has renewed hope within me--otherwise I should not say this to you now.

Quite of late; since her rejection of me; I have observed that--that---- I cannot describe it, Thomas," he broke off. "But I have determined to risk my fate once more. And you--loving Cecil as I do--you thought I could prosecute George!"

"But I did not know that you loved Cecil."

"I suppose not. It has seemed to me, though, that my love must have been patent to the world. You would give her to me, would you not?"

"Ay; thankfully," was the warm answer. "The thought of leaving Cecil unprotected has been one of my cares. Janet and Bessy are older and more experienced. Let me give you one consolation, Averil: if Cecilia has rejected you, she has rejected others. Janet has fancied she had some secret attachment. Can it have been to yourself?"

"If so, why should she have rejected me?"

"In truth I do not know. Cecil has seemed grievously unhappy since these troubles arose: almost as one who has no further hope in life. George's peril has told upon her."

"His peril?"

"From you."

Lord Averil bit his lip. "Cecil, above all others--unless it were yourself--might have known that he was safe."

A silence ensued. Lord Averil resumed: "There is one upon whom I fear these troubles are telling all too greatly, Thomas. And that is your brother's wife."

"May G.o.d comfort her!" was the involuntary answer that broke from the lips of Thomas G.o.dolphin.

"Had I been ever so harshly inclined, I think the sight of her to-day would have disarmed me. No, no: had I never owned friendship for you; had I never loved Cecil, there is certainly enough evil, cruel, unavoidable evil, which must fall with this calamity, without my adding to it."

"When I brought word home this afternoon that you were well disposed towards George--that he had nothing to fear from you, Cecil burst into tears."

A glow arose to Lord Averil's face. He looked out on the setting sun in silence. "Has your brother been sent for?" he presently asked.

"Maria and I have both written for him now. I should think he will come.

What is it, Bexley?"

"A message from Mrs. Pain, sir, about some of the fixtures at Lady G.o.dolphin's Folly. Mrs. Pain wants to know if you have a list of them.

She forgets which belong to the house, and which don't."

Thomas G.o.dolphin said a word of apology to Lord Averil, and left the room. In the hall he met Cecil crossing to it. She went in, quite unconscious who was its inmate. He rose up to welcome her.

A momentary hesitation in her steps: a doubt whether she should not run away again, and then she recalled her senses and went forward.

She recalled what he had done that day for her brother; she went forward to thank him. But ere the thanks had well begun, they came to an end, for Cecil had burst into tears.

How it went on, and what was exactly said or done, neither of them could remember afterwards. A very few minutes, and Cecil's head was resting upon his shoulder, all the mistakes of the past cleared up between them.

She might not have confessed to him how long she had loved him--ever since that long past time when they were together at Mrs. Averil's--but for her dread lest he should fear that she was only accepting him now out of grat.i.tude--grat.i.tude for his n.o.ble behaviour to her erring brother. And so she told him the truth: that she had loved him, and only him, all through.

"Cecil, my darling, what long misery might have been spared me had I known this!"

Cecil looked down. Perhaps some might also have been spared to her. "It is not right that you should marry me now," she said.

"Why?"

"On account of this dreadful disgrace. George must have forgotten how it would fall upon----"

"Hush, Cecil! The disgrace, as I look upon it--as I believe all just people must look upon it--is confined to himself. It is indeed. Not an iota of the respect due to Thomas by the world, of the consideration due to the Miss G.o.dolphins, will be lessened. Rely upon it I am right."

"But Thomas is being reflected upon daily: personally abused."

"By a few inconsiderate creditors, smarting just now under their loss.

That will all pa.s.s away. If you could read my heart and see how happy you have made me, you would know how little cause you have to talk of 'disgrace,' Cecil."

She was happy also, as she rested there against him; too happy.

"Would you like to live at Ashlydyat, Cecil? Thomas would rather we had it than it should lapse to strangers. I should wish to buy it."

"Oh yes--if it could be."

"I dare say it can be. Of course it can. Ashlydyat must be sold, and I shall be as welcome a purchaser as any other would be. If it must be put up to auction, I can be its highest bidder; but I dare say they will be glad to avoid the expense of an auction, and let me purchase it privately. I might purchase the furniture also, Cecil; all the old relics that Sir George set so much store by--that Janet does still."

"If it could be!" she murmured.