“Yes.”

“And you would not have him?  What for Charley?”

“I did not like Julius, and I did like some one else.”

“Oh!  Oh!  Who is the some one else?”

“Guess, Harry.  He is very like you, very:  fair and tall, with clear, candid, happy blue eyes; and brown hair curling close over his head.  In the folds and in the fields he is a master.  His heart is gentle to all, and full of love for me.  He has spirit, dint, [Dint, energy.] ambition, enterprise; and can work twenty hours out of the twenty-four to carry out his own plans.  He is a right good fellow, Harry.”

“A North-country man?”

“Certainly.  Do you think I would marry a stranger?”

“Cumberland born?”

“Who else?”

“Then it is Steve Latrigg, eh?  Well, Charley, you might go farther, and fare worse.  I don’t think he is worthy of you.”

“Oh, but I do!”

“Very few men are worthy of you.”

“Only Steve.  I want you to like Steve.  Harry.”

“Certainly.  Seat-Sandal folks and Up-Hill folks are always thick friends.  And Steve and I were boy chums.  He is a fine fellow, and no mistake.  I am glad he is to be my brother.  I asked mother about him; and she said he was in Yorkshire, learning how to spin and weave wool—­a queer thing, Charley.”

“Not at all.  He may just as well spin his own fleeces as sell them to Yorkshiremen to spin.”  Then they talked awhile of Stephen’s plans, and Harry appeared to be much impressed with them.  “It is a pity father does not join him, Charley,” he said.  “Every one is doing something of the kind now.  Land and sheep do not make money fast enough for the wants of our present life.  The income of the estate is no larger than it was in grandfather’s time; but the expenses are much greater, although we do not keep up the same extravagant style.  I need money, too, need it very much; but I see plainly that father has none to spare.  Julius will press him very close.”

“What has Julius to do with father’s money?”

“Father must, in honor, pay Sophia’s portion.  Unfortunately, when the fellow was here last, father told him that he had put away from the estate one hundred pounds a year for each of his girls.  Under this promise, Sophia’s right with interest will be near three thousand pounds, exclusive of her share in the money grandmother left you.  I am sorry to say that I have had something to do with making it hard for father to meet these obligations.  And Julius wants the money paid at the marriage.  Father, too, feels very much as I feel, and would rather throw it into the sea than give it to him; only noblesse oblige.”

The subject evidently irritated Harry beyond endurance, and he suddenly changed it by taking from his pocket an ivory miniature.  He gave it to Charlotte, and watched her face with a glow of pleasant expectation.  “Why, Harry!” she cried, “does so lovely a woman really exist?”