“I think it is very likely she will,” said Francis.

“But if she is married to some one else before you go out—­they do these things very quickly at the antipodes,” said Mr. MacFarlane.  “There—­the first mail after their arrival, we hear of Alice Melville being engaged to be married.”

“I will trust her,” said Francis.  “She will surely wait till she hears how I receive this news.  Even at the worst I can console myself with your friend, Mr. Sinclair; she will be at hand, and that is a great matter.”

“Don’t give it up so rashly.  I’d rather fight it out to the death than that.  At any rate, you might keep possession of Cross Hall for a while till you made your way in public life,” said Mr. MacFarlane.

“The plan of action I had laid out for myself was not likely to succeed for ten or twenty years, in all probability; and the lawsuit, if protracted to the utmost, would likely go against me at last—­I see it would; and the only effect would be that the benevolent societies would come to the property when it had been reduced about one half by litigation.  With all due respect for you personally, Mr. MacFarlane, I think money spent in law the very worst investment for all parties concerned, and for the world in general.  No, it shall be given up at once.”

“But,” said Sinclair, “it would be unfair to yourself to begin the world at greater disadvantage than before you were left the property.”

“Yes, I think it would,” said Francis.  “I might represent the case to them in that light.  I am satisfied with your opinion, Mr. MacFarlane; but on a question of such importance, you will, of course, have no objection to my consulting another adviser—­the Lord Advocate, I think.”

“Certainly, you could not have a better man,” said Mr. MacFarlane.

“Give me the will or a copy to show him,” said Francis.  “I must make a note of the names and addresses of these societies, in case his opinion coincides with yours, for I must write to each of them to send a delegate or deputation to meet me.  I should see them all at once, and explain matters to them.  Rather a hard matter for a shy man like myself to bring his love affairs before five charitable associations.”

“Shy!” said Sinclair.  “You are as bold and frank a politician as I ever saw.”

“Oh, politics are another matter; but until I met with Jane, I never had any one in whom I could confide—­I never even knew the blessing of friendship before.  She taught me to be frank, for she had confidence in me and felt for me.  You see I am practising for the associations by speaking to two elderly gentlemen on the subject.  Another lesson at the Lord Advocate’s, and I hope to be equal to the emergency.”