and expatiating on the advantages of the Home to the poor little lost one.  In her desire to reclaim Marmaduke also, she entrusted the letter to George, who undertook to deliver it, and further Julia’s project by personal persuasion.  George described the interview to me, and shewed me, I am sorry to say, how much downright ferocity may exist beneath an apparently frank, jovial, reckless exterior like Marmaduke’s.”

“Well, I hardly wonder at his refusing.  Of course, he might have known that the motive of the offer was a kind one.”

“Refused!  A gentleman can always refuse an offer with dignity.  Marmaduke was outrageous.  George—­a clergyman—­owed his escape from actual violence to the interference of the woman, and to a timely representation that he had undertaken to bear the message in order to soften any angry feelings that it might give rise to.  Marmaduke repeatedly applied foul language to his aunt and to her offer; and George with great difficulty dissuaded him from writing a most offensive letter to her.  Julia was so hurt by this that she complained to Dora—­Marmaduke’s mother—­who had up to that time been kept in ignorance of his doings; and now it is hard to say where the mischief will end.  Dora is overwhelmed by the revelation of the life her son is leading.  Marmaduke has consequently forfeited his father’s countenance, which had to be extended to him so far as to allow of his occasional appearance at home, in order to keep Dora in the dark.  Now that she is enlightened, of course there is an end of all that, and he is forbidden the house.”

“What a lot of mischief!  Dear me!”

“So I said to Marian.  Had she refused to go up the river with Marmaduke, as she should have done, all this would not have occurred.  She will not see it in that light, but lays all the blame on her aunt Julia, whose offer fell somewhat short of her own notions of providing for the child’s future.”

“How does Marmaduke stand with respect to money?  I suppose his father has stopped his allowance.”

“No.  He threatened to do it, and went so far as to make his solicitor write to that effect to Marmaduke, who had the consummate impudence to reply that he should in that case be compelled to provide for himself by contracting a marriage of which he could not expect his family to approve.  Still, he added, if the family chose to sever their connexion with him, they could not expect him to consult their feelings in his future disposal of himself.  In plain English, he threatened to marry this woman if his income was cut off.  He carried his point, too; for no alteration has been made in his allowance.  Indeed, as he has money of his own, and as part of the property is entailed, it would be easier to irritate him uselessly than to subject him to any material deprivation.”

“The young scamp!  I wonder he was clever enough to take advantage like that.”

“He has shewn no lack of acuteness of late.  I suspect he is under shrewd guidance.”