’Pshaw!  Pity but she’d been safe married—­tied it up well with settlements then out of her power.  Can’t think what that young Fitzjocelyn was after—­it ain’t the old affair.  Ponsonby writes me that things are to be settled as soon as Ward comes back.’

‘Indeed!’

’Aye, good sort of fellow—­no harm to have him in our concerns—­I hope he’ll look into the accounts, and find what Robson is at.  After all, I shall soon be out there myself, and make Master Robson look about him.  Mad to allow myself to stay—­but I’ll wait no longer.  Morrison may put the fellows off’—­I’ll give him a hint; we’ll save the place, after all, when I once get out to Lima.  If only I knew what to do with that girl!’

James could not look at him without a conviction that he would never recover the use of his hand and foot; but this was no time to discourage his spirits, and the answer was—­’My sister’s natural home would be with me.’

’Ha! the child would like it, I suppose.  I’d make a handsome allowance for her.  I shall manage that when my affairs are in my own hands; but I may as well write to the mountains as to Ponsonby.  Aye, aye!  Clara might go to you.  She’ll have enough any way to be quite worth young Fitzjocelyn’s while, you may tell him.  That mine in the San Benito would retrieve all, and I’ll not forget.  Pray, how many children have you by this time?’

‘Four little girls, sir,’ said James, restraining the feeling which was rising in the contact with his uncle, revealing that both were still the same men.

’Hm!  No time lost, however!  Well, we shall see!  Any way, an allowance for Clara’s board won’t hurt.  What’s your notion?’

James’s notion was profound pity for the poor old man.  ’Indeed, sir,’ he said, ’Clara is sure to be welcome.  All we wish is, that you would kindly bring her to us at once.  Perhaps you would find the baths of service; we would do our utmost to make you comfortable, and we are not inhabiting half the house, so that there would be ample space to keep the children from inconveniencing you.’

‘Clara is set on it, I’ll warrant.’

’Clara waits to be guided by your wishes; but my wife and I should esteem it as the greatest favour you could do us.’

’Ha! we’ll see what I can manage.  I must see Morrison’—­and he fell into meditation, presently breaking from it to say fretfully, ’I say, Roland, would you reach me that tumbler?’

Never had James thought to be grateful for that name!  He would gladly have been Roland Dynevor for the rest of his days, if he could have left behind him the transgressions of James Frost!  But the poor man’s shattered thoughts had been too long on the stretch; and, without further ceremony, Jane came in and dismissed his nephew.

Clara hardly trusted her ears when she was told shortly after, by her uncle, that they were to go to Northwold.  Roland wished it; and, poor fellow! the board and lodging were a great object to him.  He seemed to have come to his senses now it was too late; and if Clara wished it, and did not think it dull, there she might stay while he himself was gone to Lima.