"It won't always remain small," said Mr. North. "His practice will increase when Alexander goes; and he'll have other money, may be, later. Oh, they'll get on, Fanny. Young couples like to be sufficiently poor to make struggling upwards a pleasure. I dare say you married upon less." "Of course, if you are satisfied--it must be all right," murmured Mrs. Cumberland. "You and Bessy." She drew her veil over her grey face, said good-morning, and moved away. Not in the direction of Dallory--as she was previously walking--but back to the Ham. Mr. North turned into his grounds again; Richard went after Mrs. Cumberland. "I beg your pardon," he said--he was not as familiar with her as his father was--"will you allow me a word. You do not like this proposed marriage. Have you anything to urge against it?" "Only for Bessy's sake. I was thinking of her." "_Why_ for Bessy's sake?" There was some slight hesitation in Mrs. Cumberland's answer. She appeared to be drawing her veil straight. "Their income will be so small. _I_ know what a small income is, and therefore I feel for her." "Is that all your hesitation, Mrs. Cumberland?--the narrowness of the income?" "All." "Then I think, as my father says, you may safely leave the decision with themselves. But--_was_ this all?" added Richard: for an idea to the contrary had taken hold of him. "You have no personal objection to Bessy?" "Certainly it was all," was Mrs. Cumberland's reply. "As to any personal objection to Bessy, that I could never have. When Oliver first told me they were engaged, I thought how lucky he was to win Bessy North; I wished them success with all my heart. "Forgive me, Mrs. Cumberland. Thank you. Good-morning." Reassured, Richard North turned, and strode hastily away in the direction of Dallory. He fancied she had heard Bessy would have no fortune, and was feeling disappointed on her son's account. It struck him that he might as well confirm this; and he wheeled round. Mrs. Cumberland had gone on and was already seated on the bench before spoken of, in the shady part of the road. Richard, in a few concise words, entering into no details of any sort, said to her that his sister would have no marriage portion. "_That_ I have long taken as a matter of course; knowing what the expenses at the Hall must be," she answered with a friendly smile. "Bessy is a fortune in herself; she would make a good wife to any man. Provided they have sufficient for comfort--and I hope Oliver will soon be making that--they can be as happy without wealth as with it, if your sister can only think so. Have you--pardon me for recalling what must be an unpleasant topic, Richard--have you yet gained any clue to the writer of that anonymous letter?" "Not any. It presents mystery on all sides." "Mystery?"