In spite of the efforts the latter made to hurry on Messrs. Barrington and Smiles, it was nearly three weeks before the deed of gift was prepared. It had, in the first place, been sketched out by Cuthbert, with the assistance of James Harford, and recited "That Mr. Brander, of Fairclose, handed back that estate, together with the house and all appurtenances appertaining thereto, to Cuthbert Hartington as a dowry with his daughter Mary upon her marriage with the said Cuthbert Hartington, being moved thereto partly by his love and affection for his daughter, partly by the desire to restore to the said Cuthbert Hartington the family estates of which he had been deprived, partly from the want of care of the said Jeremiah Brander in failing to represent to the late J. W. Hartington, father of the said Cuthbert Hartington, the grievous nature of the liability he would incur by taking shares in the Abchester and County Bank." Cuthbert was the more anxious to get the affair arranged, as the insurrection in Paris had broken out, and he was eager to return there. At last the deed was drawn up and he returned to Abchester, and taking a fly at the station drove straight to Fairclose. He had written several times to Mary lamenting that business had detained him longer than he expected, and suggesting that it would be better for her to leave Paris at once, but she had replied that she would rather remain there, at any rate, until his return. As he did not wish her to come to Abchester at present, he abstained from pressing the point, believing that McMahon would speedily collect a sufficient force at Versailles to suppress the insurrection. He found Mr. Brander looking much more himself. It was a very subdued likeness, but he had evidently gained strength greatly. "I have been longing for your return," he said, as soon as Cuthbert entered the library. "I am eager to get out of this and to go away. Have you brought down the deed?" "Here it is; it is all stamped and in due form, and needs only your signature and that of two witnesses." Mr. Brander rang the bell. "John, call Gardener in. I want you both to witness my signature." The coachman came in. "Glad to see you again, Mr. Cuthbert," he said, touching an imaginary hat. "I am glad to see you, Gardener. I knew you were still here." All was ready for the signature. While waiting for the men's entry Cuthbert had said-- "I would rather you did not read this deed until you have signed it, Mr. Brander. I know it is a most unbusiness-like thing for you to do, but I think you may feel sure you can trust me." "I have no intention of reading it," the lawyer said. "Whatever the conditions of that paper I am ready to comply with them." After the signatures had been affixed, and the witnesses had retired, Cuthbert said-- "Now, Mr. Brander, you are at liberty to read the deed. I think you will find its provisions satisfactory."