At that monosyllable Mr. Raby was very much discomposed.

“There goes a friend out of this house; more fools we.  You have lost her by your confounded folly.  What is the use spooning all your days after another man’s wife?  I wouldn’t have had this happen for ten thousand pounds.  Dissolute Dick! he will break her heart in a twelvemouth.”

“Then why, in heaven’s name, didn’t you marry her yourself?”

“Me! at my age?  No; why didn’t you marry her?  You know she fancies you.  The moment you found Grace married, you ought to have secured this girl, and lived with me; the house is big enough for you all.”

“It is not so big as your heart, sir,” said Henry.  “But pray don’t speak to me of love or marriage either.”

“Why should I?  The milk is spilt; it is no use crying now.  Let us go and dress for dinner.  Curse the world—­it is one disappointment.”

Little himself was vexed, but he determined to put a good face on it, and to be very kind to his good friend Jael.

She did not appear at dinner, and when the servants had retired, he said, “Come now, let us make the best of it.  Mother, if you don’t mind, I will settle five thousand pounds upon her and her children.  He is a spendthrift, I hear, and as poor as Job.”

Mrs. Little stared at her son.  “Why, she has refused him!”

Loud exclamations of surprise and satisfaction.

“A fine fright you have given us.  You said ‘Yes.’”

“Well, that meant he had proposed.  You know, Guy, I had told you he would:  I saw it in his eye.  So I observed, in a moment, he had, and I said ‘Yes.’”

“Then why doesn’t she come down to dinner?”

“He has upset her.  It is the old story:  he cried to her, and told her he had been wild, and misconducted himself, all because he had never met a woman he could really love and respect; and then he begged her, and implored her, and said his fate depended on her.”

“But she was not caught with that chaff; so why does she not come and receive the congratulations of the company on her escape?”

“Because she is far too delicate;” then, turning to her son, “and perhaps, because she can’t help comparing the manly warmth and loving appreciation of Mr. Richard Raby, with the cold indifference and ingratitude of others.”

“Oh,” said Henry, coloring, “if that is her feeling, she will accept him next time.”

“Next time!” roared Raby.  “There shall be no next time.  I have given the scamp fair play, quite against my own judgment.  He has got his answer now, and I won’t have the girl tormented with him any more.  I trust that to you, Edith.”

Mrs. Little promised him Dick and Jael should not meet again, in Raby Hall at least.

That evening she drew her son apart and made an earnest appeal to him.