This important relative had not been to Marbridge yet, in spite of what he wrote to his sister; he had not been able to get away.  Indeed, he was not able to do so until the day after Cherie’s wedding.  Mrs. Polkington was in a happy and contented frame of mind; the quiet wedding had gone off quite as well as Violet’s grander one—­really, a quiet wedding is more effective than a smart one in the dull time of year, and always, of course, less expensive.  Cherie had looked lovely in simple dress, and the presents, considering the quietness and haste, were surprisingly numerous and handsome.  Mr. Smith was liked and respected by a wide circle.  Mrs. Polkington felt satisfied and also very pleased to have Violet, her favourite daughter, with her again.  She and Violet were talking over the events of the day with mutual congratulation, when Mr. William Ponsonby was announced.

Fortunately, Violet’s husband, Mr. Frazer, had gone to see his old friend the vicar, and more fortunately still, he was persuaded to stay and dine with him.  It would have been rather awkward to have had him present at the display of family washing which took place that evening.  Mr. Ponsonby did not mince matters; he said, perhaps not altogether without justice, that he had had about enough of the Polkingtons.  He also said he wanted the truth, and seeing that his sister had long ago found that about her own concerns so very unattractive that she never dealt with it naked; it did not show beautiful now.  In the course of time, however, he got it, or near enough for working purposes.  Out came all the bills, and out came the threatening letter and old account books and remembered debts both of times past and present; and when he had got them all, he added them up, showed Mrs. Polkington the total, and asked her what she was going to do.

She said she did not know; privately she felt there was no need for her to consider the question; was it not the one her self-invited brother had come to answer?  He did answer it, almost as soon as he asked it.

“You will have to leave this house,” he said, “sell what you can of its contents and pay all that is possible of your debts.  You won’t be able to pay many with that; the rest I shall have to arrange about, I suppose.  Oh, not pay; don’t think that for a moment; I’ve paid a deal more than I ought for you long ago.  I mean to see the people and arrange that you pay by degrees; you will have to devote most of your income to that for a time.  What will you live on in the meanwhile?  This legacy—­it is you who have got it, isn’t it?” he said, turning to Julia; “I thought so.  Fortunately the money is not in any way tied up, you can get at the principal.  Well, the best thing to be done is to buy a good boarding-house.  You could make a boarding-house pay, Caroline,” he went on to his sister, “if you tried; your social gifts would be some use there—­you will have to try.”

Mrs. Polkington looked a little dismayed, and Violet said, “It would be rather degrading, wouldn’t it?”