"Because he has two funerals this afternoon--people are sure to die at the wrong time," added Lady Mary, quaintly. "And the vicar of the next parish, who is always ready to help him, is away this week." "And the godfathers?--who are they, Mary?" "My husband is one of them: he has stood to all his children. The other is Oscar Dalrymple." "Oscar Dalrymple?" echoed Grace. "Yes. He is not a general favourite; but Mr. Cleveland likes him. And he thinks he has behaved very well in this wretched business of Selina's. The one we should have preferred to have for godfather, we did not like to ask--if you can understand that apparent contradiction, Gracie?" "And who was that?" asked Grace, looking up. "Francis Grubb. He has been so very, very kind to us, and we like and respect him so greatly, above all other men on the face of the earth, that we quite longed to ask him to stand to the poor little waif. On the other hand, he is so wealthy and so generous, that my husband thought it might look like coveting more benefits. And so we fixed on Mr. Dalrymple." Grace mused. "I never use my beautiful pony-carriage but I feel grateful to Mr. Grubb," went on Lady Mary. "And look how good he has been in regard to Charles!" A slight frown at the last word contracted Grace's fair and open brow, as though the name brought her some sort of discomfort. It was smoothed away at once. "Are the Dalrymples at Moat Grange?" she asked. "Still there; living like hermits, in the most inexpensive manner possible, with two servants only--or three, I forget which. Two maids, I think it is; and a man who has to do the garden--as much as one man can do of it--and feed the two pigs, and milk the cow, and see to the cocks and hens." A smile crossed Grace's lips. "Does Selina like that kind of life?" "Selina has to like it; at any rate, to put up with it, and she does it with a good grace. It is she who has reduced Oscar to poverty; the least she can do is to share in his retirement and retrenchments without murmuring. Oscar is trying to let Moat Grange, but does not seem able to succeed. His own little place, Knutford, was let for a term of years when he came into Moat Grange, so they cannot retire to that." "It was very sad of Selina to act so," sighed Grace. "It was unpardonable," corrected Lady Mary. "She knew how limited her husband's income was. Thoughtlessness runs in the Dalrymple family. Poor Mrs. Dalrymple wanted to give up the cottage and the income Oscar allows her, and go out into the world to shift for herself; but Oscar would not hear of it. We respect him for it. Close he may be, rather crabbed in temper; but he has a keen sense of honour. It is said his debts amount to ten thousand pounds." "Ten thousand pounds!" almost screamed Grace.