Lord Haredale had always felt that, however unlucky he might be himself, it was his sister's duty to the family to keep her few thousands safe; they had held a satisfactory place in his mind. He swore at the family lawyer for giving her bad advice, and confounded her folly in not looking more closely after her own affairs. "I'm infernally sorry for you, Annabel," he said, when he had cooled down a little. "As you know, what with Charles's cursed extravagance, to say nothing of my lady's, I have nothing at command." "I never supposed, for one moment, that you would have, Haredale," said his sister, emphatically. "Nor am I reduced to beggary. I can lessen my expenses. But if I do so, what can I do for Amethyst? Her life would be cut down to the narrowest limits. I could not possibly introduce her in London, which seems to me essential, in her position-- all I had saved for the purpose is gone. I cannot tell you what it would cost me to resign the charge which I undertook. But of course you must decide for her as you think best." "It's deuced bad luck," said Lord Haredale. "You see, I got my lady down to Cleverley, on the plea that she could come up for two or three weeks when you had Amethyst in town. But as to a London house, and bringing the girl out ourselves, it's impossible." "In that case, she might wait another year; we might manage to keep her at school a year longer?" said Miss Haredale, anxiously. "Ay, but you see," said Lord Haredale, "her mother tells me she's going to be a beauty." "Yes, she is," said Miss Haredale, dejectedly. "That alters the question. She might make a good match. You know my lady won't be jealous of her, and keep her back. That never was her way. She treated Blanche like a sister--dressed her up to the nines on every occasion--though she wasn't her own child." "If I thought that Blanche's story--" began Miss Haredale, vehemently. "Blanche was a fool," said Lord Haredale, "she was born so. Perhaps Amethyst ain't." "Amethyst is a good, high-minded girl, with plenty of sense. But she's as innocent as a child, and how do I know how she may turn out? Oh, Haredale, I came to tell you my trouble, and to offer her back, because I had promised that she should be brought out this year, and I felt that it was due to the family. I do care for the old name, Haredale, but I believe I am a worldly-minded woman. Let her grow a bit older, and then we shall see. Down with me, she'll be as fresh as a rose at twenty."