’Do not misjudge my brother.  He knew Juliana’s love for him and rejected it.  You will soon have proofs of his disinterestedness.  Then do not forget that he works to support us all.  I write this with no hope save to make you just to him.  That is the utmost he will ever anticipate.’

It gave no beating of the heart to Rose to hear good of Evan now:  but an increased serenity of confidence in the accuracy of her judgement of persons.

The arrival of Lawyer Perkins supplied the key to Caroline’s communication.  No one was less astonished than Rose at the news that Evan renounced the estate.  She smiled at Harry’s contrite stupefaction, and her father’s incapacity of belief in conduct so singular, caused her to lift her head and look down on her parent.

‘Shows he knows nothing of the world, poor young fellow!’ said Sir Franks.

‘Nothing more clearly,’ observed Lady Jocelyn.  ’I presume I shall cease to be blamed for having had him here?’

‘Upon my honour, he must have the soul of a gentleman!’ said the baronet.  ‘There’s nothing he can expect in return, you know!’

‘One would think, Papa, you had always been dealing with tradesmen!’ remarked Rose, to whom her father now accorded the treatment due to a sensible girl.

Laxley was present at the family consultation.  What was his opinion?  Rose manifested a slight anxiety to hear it.

‘What those sort of fellows do never surprises me,’ he said, with a semi-yawn.

Rose felt fire on her cheeks.

‘It’s only what the young man is bound to do,’ said Mrs. Shorne.

‘His duty, aunt?  I hope we may all do it!’ Rose interjected.

‘Championing him again?’

Rose quietly turned her face, too sure of her cold appreciation of him to retort.  But yesterday night a word from him might have made her his; and here she sat advocating the nobility of his nature with the zeal of a barrister in full swing of practice.  Remember, however, that a kiss separates them:  and how many millions of leagues that counts for in love, in a pure girl’s thought, I leave you to guess.

Now, in what way was Evan to be thanked? how was he to be treated?  Sir Franks proposed to go down to him in person, accompanied by Harry.  Lady Jocelyn acquiesced.  But Rose said to her mother: 

‘Will not you wound his sensitiveness by going to him there?’

‘Possibly,’ said her ladyship.  ’Shall we write and ask him to come to us?’

‘No, Mama.  Could we ask him to make a journey to receive our thanks?’

‘Not till we have solid ones to offer, perhaps.’

’He will not let us help him, Mama, unless we have all given him our hands.’

’Probably not.  There’s always a fund of nonsense in those who are capable of great things, I observe.  It shall be a family expedition, if you like.’

‘What!’ exclaimed Mrs. Shorne.  ’Do you mean that you intend to allow Rose to make one of the party?  Franks! is that your idea?’