Mr Oriel was dumbfounded.  He had never said a word to any creature as to Beatrice’s dowry; and when Mr Gresham had told him, with sorrow, that his daughter’s portion must be small, he had at once passed away from the subject as one that was hardly fit for conversation, even between him and his future father-in-law; and now he was abruptly questioned on the subject by a man he had never seen before in his life.  Of course, he could make no answer.

‘The squire has muddled his matters most uncommonly,’ continued Sir Louis, filling his glass for the second time before he passed the bottle.  ’What do you suppose now he owes me alone; just at one lump, you know?’

Mr Oriel had nothing for it but to run.  He could make no answer, nor would he sit there for tidings as to Mr Gresham’s embarrassments.  So he fairly retreated, without having said one word to his neighbour, finding such discretion to be the only kind of valour left to him.

‘What, Oriel! off already?’ said the squire.  ‘Anything the matter?’

’Oh, no; nothing particular.  I’m not just quite—­I think I will go out for a few minutes.’

‘See what it is to be in love,’ said the squire, half-whispering to Dr Thorne.  ‘You’re not in the same way, I hope?’

Sir Louis then shifted his seat again, and found himself next to Frank.  Mr Gazebee was opposite to him, and the doctor opposite to Frank.

‘Parson seems peekish, I think,’ said the baronet.

‘Peekish?’ said the squire, inquisitively.

‘Rather down on his luck.  He’s decently well off himself, isn’t he?’

There was another pause, and nobody seemed inclined to answer the question.

‘I mean, he’s got something more than his bare living.’

‘Oh, yes,’ said Frank, laughing.  ’He’s got what will buy him bread and cheese when the Rads shut up the Church:—­unless, indeed, they shut up the Funds too.’

’Ah, there’s nothing like land,’said Sir Louis:  ’nothing like dirty acres; is there, squire?’

‘Land is a very good investment, certainly,’ said the Mr Gresham.

‘The best going,’ said the other, who was now, as people say when they mean to be good-natured, slightly under the influence of liquor.  ’The best going—­eh, Gazebee?’

Mr Gazebee gathered himself up, and turned away his head, looking out of the window.

’You lawyers never like to give an opinion without money, ha! ha! ha!  Do they, Mr Gresham?  You and I have had to pay for plenty of them, and will have to pay plenty more before they let us alone.’

Here Mr Gazebee got up, and followed Mr Oriel out of the room.  He was not, of course, on such intimate terms in the house as was Mr Oriel; but he hoped to be forgiven by the ladies in consequence of the severity of the miseries to which he was subjected.  He and Mr Oriel were soon to be seen through the dining-room window, walking about the grounds with the two eldest Miss Greshams.  And Patience Oriel, who had also been of the party, was also to be seen with the twins.  Frank looked at his father with almost a malicious smile, and began to think that he too might be better employed out among the walks.  Did he think then of a former summer evening, when he had half broken Mary’s heart by walking there too lovingly with Patience Oriel?