“Archie, you are a fool,” said Sir Hugh; and Archie could see, by his brother’s brow, that Hugh was angry.  “You say things that, for folly and absurdity, are beyond belief.  If you can’t see the peculiarities of Julia’s position, I am not going to point them out to you.”

“She is peculiar, of course—­having so much money, and that place near Guilford, all her own for her life.  Of course it’s peculiar.  But four months, Hugh!”

“If it had been four days it need have made no difference.  A home, with some one to support her, is everything to her.  If you wait till lots of fellows are buzzing around her you won’t have a chance.  You’ll find that by this time next year she’ll be the top of the fashion; and if not engaged to you, she will be to some one else.  I shouldn’t be surprised if Harry were after her again.”

“He’s engaged to that girl we saw down at Clavering.”

“What of that?  Engagements can be broken as well as made.  You have this great advantage over every one, except him, that you can go to her at once without doing anything out of the way.  That girl that Harry has in tow may perhaps keep him away for some time.”

“I tell you what, Hugh, you might as well call with me the first time.”

“So that I may quarrel with her, which I certainly should do—­or, rather, she with me.  No, Archie; if you’re afraid to go alone, you’d better give it up.”

“Afraid!  I’m not afraid!”

“She can’t eat you.  Remember that with her you needn’t stand on your p’s and q’s, as you would with another woman.  She knows what she is about, and will understand what she has to get as well as what she is expected to give.  All I can say is, that if she accepts you, Hermy will consent that she shall go to Clavering as much as she pleases till the marriage takes place.  It couldn’t be done, I suppose, till after a year; and in that case she shall be married at Clavering.”

Here was a prospect for Julia Brabazon—­to be led to the same altar, at which she had married Lord Ongar, by Archie Clavering, twelve month’s after her first husband’s death, and little more than two years after her first wedding!  The peculiarity of the position did not quite make itself apparent either to Hugh or to Archie; but there was one point which did suggest itself to the younger brother at that moment.

“I don’t suppose there was anything really wrong, eh?”

“Can’t say, I’m sure,” said Sir Hugh.

“Because I shouldn’t like—­”

“If I were you I wouldn’t trouble myself about that.  Judge not, that you be not judged.”

“Yes, that’s true, to be sure,” said Archie; and on that point he went forth satisfied.

Chapter XIX

Let Her Know That You’re There