“Don’t talk like that, Joshua.”

“But there is some screw loose.  Simpson came up to my father about it yesterday, and the governor let enough of the cat out of the bag to make me know that the thing is not going as straight as she wishes.”

“He has offered, then?”

“I am sure he has asked her.”

“And your aunt will accept him?” asked Molly.

“There’s probably some difference about money.  It’s all done with the intention of injuring poor Harry.  If he were my own brother I could not be more unhappy about him.  And as to Aunt Matilda, she’s a fool.  There are two fools together.  If they choose to marry we can’t hinder them.  But there is some screw loose, and if the two young lovers don’t know their own minds things may come right at last.”  Then, with some farther blandishments, the prosperous brewer walked away.

CHAPTER XXX.

PERSECUTION.

In the mean time Florence Mountjoy was not passing her time pleasantly at Brussels.  Various troubles there attended her.  All her friends around her were opposed to her marriage with Harry Annesley.  Harry Annesley had become a very unsavory word in the mouths of Sir Magnus and the British Embassy generally.  Mrs. Mountjoy told her grief to her brother-in-law, who thoroughly took her part, as did also, very strongly, Lady Mountjoy.  It got to be generally understood that Harry was a mauvais sujet.  Such was the name that was attached to him, and the belief so conveyed was thoroughly entertained by them all.  Sir Magnus had written to friends in London, and the friends in London bore out the reports that were so conveyed.  The story of the midnight quarrel was told in a manner very prejudicial to poor Harry, and both Sir Magnus and his wife saw the necessity of preserving their niece from anything so evil as such a marriage.  But Florence was very firm, and was considered to be very obstinate.  To her mother she was obstinate but affectionate To Sir Magnus she was obstinate and in some degree respectful.  But to Lady Mountjoy she was neither affectionate nor respectful.  She took a great dislike to Lady Mountjoy, who endeavored to domineer; and who, by the assistance of the two others, was in fact tyrannical.  It was her opinion that the girl should be compelled to abandon the man, and Mrs. Mountjoy found herself constrained to follow this advice.  She did love her daughter, who was her only child.  The main interest of her life was centred in her daughter.  Her only remaining ambition rested on her daughter’s marriage.  She had long revelled in the anticipation of being the mother-in-law of the owner of Tretton Park.  She had been very proud of her daughter’s beauty.