“Well, my girl, a nice establishment you’ll have at Deerchase. I swear, I’d throw Bulstrode and Bob Skinny in the river, both of ’em, and let the fishes eat ’em. However, if you can stand Skelton for a husband, you can stand anything.” “Only give me a chance to stand Mr. Skelton, papa,” answered Sylvia demurely. “If the house were to catch afire, I wonder which Skelton would think of first--you or his books?” “The books, of course,” responded Sylvia, with easy sarcasm. “Wives come cheaper than books.” “I’d like to see Richard Skelton’s face the first time you cross him.” “You would see a very interesting face, papa--not very young, perhaps, but one that age cannot wither nor custom stale.” “Sylvia, my child, you are a fool!” “Only about Mr. Skelton, papa.” “Lord, Lord, what are we coming to!” “I know what _I’m_ coming to, papa. I am coming to be the wife of the finest man in the world, and the kindness and condescension of Mr. Skelton in wanting to marry me I never can be sufficiently grateful for--” At which, in the midst of a shriek of protest from Mrs. Shapleigh, Sylvia ran out of the room. CHAPTER XXI. As the time went by, with this new-found happiness and energy Skelton began every day to take more optimistic views of the future. If only the Blairs would keep quiet, the story about Lewis might remain unknown to the world at large indefinitely; and how excellent would this be for all--for the boy, for Sylvia, and for Skelton himself. There was, of course, one way of inducing Blair to say nothing and to make no attempts to prove what he considered his rights, and that was to offer him a sum of money in hand for his shadowy prospects in the future. At first, this plan was intolerably distasteful to Skelton; he only thought of it to dismiss it. But however he might dismiss it, still it returned. It is true it would give aid and comfort to his enemy, but it would also give peace and pleasure to the only two persons on earth whom he loved; for he was certain that, however Sylvia might be willing to brave talk for his sake, it would be an immeasurable relief to her to know that there would be no talk. Skelton also knew perfectly well that the Blairs stood no show whatever; for, even if Lewis should die, the Blairs could not inherit from him, because in the eyes of the law he was no relation to them, and it had pleased Skelton to think how completely he could checkmate Blair at every turn. But once the plan had entered his mind, his relentless and logical good sense forced him to consider it. He thought so much more clearly and rapidly and conclusively than the ordinary man that in a very little time his mind had made itself up. He did not all at once love Blair, but he saw that, in order to effect a great gain for the only two beings he loved in the world, he must agree to benefit his enemy; and so, under new and better influences, he brought himself to yield. As Bulstrode was Lewis’s guardian, of course Skelton could