He said, quietly, “You are her father.  I forgive you these cruel words.”  Then he took his hat and went away.

Mr. Carden followed him to the passage, and cried after him, “The villain will meet a worse reception than the fool.  I promise you that much.”

Little went home despondent, and found a long letter from his mother, telling him he must dine and sleep at Raby Hall that day.

She gave him such potent reasons, and showed him so plainly his refusal would infuriate his uncle, and make her miserable, that he had no choice.  He packed up his dress suit, and drove to Raby Hall, with a heavy heart and bitter reluctance.

O caeca mens hominum.

CHAPTER XLI.

It was the great anniversary.  On that day Sir Richard Raby had lost for the Stuarts all the head he possessed.  His faithful descendent seized the present opportunity to celebrate the event with more pomp than ever.  A month before the fatal day he came in from Hillsborough with sixty yards of violet-colored velvet, the richest that could be got from Lyons; he put this down on a table, and told his sister that was for her and Jael to wear on the coming anniversary.  “Don’t tell me there’s not enough,” said he; “for I inquired how much it would take to carpet two small rooms, and bought it; now what will carpet two little libraries will clothe two large ladies; and you are neither of you shrimps.”

While he was thus doing the cynical, nobody heeded him; quick and skillful fingers were undoing the parcel, and the ladies’ cheeks flushed and their eyes glistened, and their fingers felt the stuff inside and out:  in which occupation Raby left them, saying, “Full dress, mind!  We Rabys are not beheaded every day.”

Mrs. Little undertook to cut both dresses, and Jael was to help sew them.

But, when they came to be tried on, Jael was dismayed.  “Why, I shall be half naked,” said she.  “Oh, Mrs. Little, I couldn’t:  I should sink with shame.”

Mrs. Little pooh-poohed that, and an amusing dialogue followed between these two women, both of them equally modest, but one hardened, and perhaps a little blinded, by custom.

Neither could convince the other, but Mrs. Little overpowered Jael by saying, “I shall wear mine low, and you will mortally offend my brother if you don’t.”

Then Jael succumbed, but looked forward to the day with a simple terror one would hardly have expected from the general strength of her character.

Little arrived, and saw his mother for a minute or two before dinner.  She seemed happy and excited, and said, “Cheer up, darling; we will find a way to make you happy.  Mark my words, a new era in your life dates from to-day:  I mean to open your eyes tonight.  There, don’t question me, but give me one kiss, and let us go and make ourselves splendid for poor Sir Richard.”

When Little came down-stairs he found his uncle and a distinguished-looking young gentleman standing before the fire; both were in full dress.  Raby had the Stuart orders on his breast and looked a prince.  He introduced Little to Mr. Richard Raby with high formality; but, before they had time to make acquaintance, two ladies glided into the room, and literally dazzled the young men, especially Dissolute Dick, who knew neither of them.