“Well, mother,” said he, “after all, your speculation may not be a bad one; but pray, what is the lady’s name?”

“Riddle—­Miss Riddle.  She is of the Clan-Riddle family, a close relation to the Nethersides of Middle town.”

“And a devilish enigmatical name it is,” replied her son, “as is that of all her connections.”

“Yes, but they were always close and prudent people, who kept their opinions to themselves, and wrought their way in the world with great success, and without giving offence to any party.  If you marry her, Harry, I would advise you to enter public life, recommend yourself to the powers that be, and, my word for it, you stand a great chance of having the title of Cockletown revived in your person.”

“Well, although the title is a ridiculous one, I should have no objection to it, notwithstanding; but there will certainly arise some difficulty when we come to the marriage settlements.  There will be sharp lawyers there, whom we cannot impose upon; and you know, mother, I am without any ostensible property.”

“Yes, but we can calculate upon the death of cunning Alice, who, by her undue and flagitious influence over your uncle, left you so.”

“Ay, but such a calculation would never do either with her uncle or the lawyers.  I think we have nothing to fall back upon, mother, but your own property.  If you settle that upon me everything will go right.”

“And leave myself depending upon Lindsay?  No, no,” replied this selfish and penurious woman; “never, Harry—­never, never; you must wait until I die for that.  But I can tell you what we can do; let us enter upon the negotiation—­let us say for the time being that you have twelve hundred a-year, and, while the business is proceeding, what is there to prevent you from going to recruit your health at Balleyspellan, and kill out Alice Goodwin there, as well as if she remained at home?  By this plan, before the negotiations are closed, you will be able to meet Miss Riddle with twelve hundred a-year at your back.  Alice Goodwin!  O, how I hate and detest her—­ay, as I do hell!”

“The plan,” replied her son, “is an excellent one.  We will commence operations with Lord Cockletown and Miss Riddle, in the first place; and having opened negotiations, as you say, I shall become unwell, and go for a short time to try what efficacy the waters of Ballyspellan may have on my health—­or rather on my fortunes.”

“We shall visit them to-morrow,” said the mother.

“So be it,” replied the son; and to this resolution they came, which closed the above interesting dialogue between them.  We say interesting, for if it has not been such to the reader, it was so at least to themselves.

CHAPTER XVI.  A House of Sorrow.

—­After which follows a Courting Scene.