Frank opened his eyes wide and stared at his aunt, as though doubting much whether or no she were in her right mind.  He pay off the family debts!  He buy up property of four thousand pounds a year!  He remained, however, quite quiet, waiting the elucidation of the mystery.

‘Frank, of course you understand me.’

Frank was obliged to declare, that just at the present moment he did not find his aunt so clear as usual.

’You have but one line of conduct left you, Frank:  your position, as heir to Greshamsbury, is a good one; but your father has unfortunately so hampered you with regard to money, that unless you set the matter right yourself, you can never enjoy that position.  Of course you must marry money.’

‘Marry money!’ said he, considering for the first time that in all probability Mary Thorne’s fortune would not be extensive.  ’Marry money!’

’Yes, Frank.  I know no man whose position so imperatively demands it; and luckily for you, no man can have more facility for doing so.  In the first place you are very handsome.’

Frank blushed like a girl of sixteen.

’And then, as the matter is made plain to you at so early an age, you are not of course hampered by any indiscreet tie; by any absurd engagement.’

Frank blushed again; and then saying to himself, ’How much the old girl knows about it!’ felt a little proud of his passion for Mary Thorne, and of the declaration he had made to her.

‘And your connexion with Courcy Castle,’ continued the countess, now carrying up the list of Frank’s advantages to its greatest climax, ’will make the matter so easy for you, that really, you will hardly have any difficulty.’

Frank could not but say how much obliged he felt to Courcy Castle and its inmates.

’Of course I would not wish to interfere with you in any underhand way, Frank; but I will tell you what has occurred to me.  You have heard, probably, of Miss Dunstable?’

‘The daughter of the ointment of Lebanon man?’

‘And of course you know that her fortune is immense,’ continued the countess, not deigning to notice her nephew’s allusion to the ointment.  ’Quite immense when compared with the wants and any position of any commoner.  Now she is coming to Courcy Castle, and I wish you to come and meet her.’

’But, aunt, just at this moment I have to read for my degree like anything.  I go up, you know, to Oxford.’

‘Degree!’ said the countess.  ’Why, Frank, I am talking to you of your prospects in life, of your future position, of that on which everything hangs, and you tell me of your degree!’

Frank, however, obstinately persisted that he must take his degree, and that he should commence reading hard at six a.m. to-morrow morning.

’You can read just as well at Courcy Castle.  Miss Dunstable will not interfere with that,’ said his aunt, who knew the expediency of yielding occasionally; ’but I must beg you will come over and meet her.  You will find her a most charming young woman, remarkably well educated I am told, and—­’