"Claud, my darling, don't, pray don't use such dreadful language." "Will you be quiet, ma! It's enough to make a fellow swear. Are you quite up a tree, guv'nor?" "Oh, no, no, my boy, not so bad as that. Things can go oh for years just as before, and, er--in reason, you know--you can have what money you require; but I want you to understand that you must not look forward to having this place, and er--to see the necessity for thinking seriously about a wealthy marriage. You grasp the position now?" "Dad, it was a regular smeller, and you nearly knocked me out of time. I saw stars for the moment." "My dearest boy, what are you talking about?" asked Mrs Wilton, appealingly. "Oh, bother! But, I say, guv'nor, I'm glad you spoke out to me--like a man." "To a man, my boy," said the father, holding out his hand, which the son eagerly grasped. "Then now we understand each other?" "And no mistake, guv'nor." "You mustn't let her slip through your fingers, my boy." "Likely, dad!" "You must be careful; no more scandals--no more escapades--no follies of any kind." "I'll be a regular saint, dad. I say, think I ought to read for the church?" "Good gracious me, Claud, my dear, what do you mean?" "White choker, flopping felt, five o'clock tea, and tennis, mother. Kate would like that sort of thing." Wilton, senior, smiled grimly. "No, no, my boy, be the quiet English gentleman, and let her see that you really care for her and want to make her happy. Poor girl, she wants love and sympathy." "And she shall have 'em, dad, hot and strong. A hundred and fifty thou--!" "Would clear off every lien on the property, my boy, and it would be a grand thing for my poor deceased brother's child." "You do think so, don't, you, my dear?" said Mrs Wilton, mentally extending a tendril, to cling to her husband, "because I--" "Decidedly, decidedly, my dear," said the Squire, quickly. "Thank you, Claud, my boy," he continued. "I shall rely upon your strong common sense and judgment." "All right, guv'nor. You give me my head. I'll make it all right. I'll win the stakes with hands down." "I do trust you, my boy; but you must be gentle, and not too hasty." "I know," said the young man with a cunning look. "You leave me alone." "Hah! That's right, then," said the Squire, drawing a deep breath as he smiled at his son; but all the same his eyes did not look the confidence expressed by his words. CHAPTER SEVEN. "Why, there then, my precious, you are ever so much better. You look quite bright this morning." "Do I, 'Liza?" said Kate sadly, as she walked to her bedroom window and stood gazing out at the sodden park and dripping trees. "Ever so much, my dear. Mr Leigh has done you a deal of good. I do wonder at finding such a clever gentlemanly Doctor down in an out-of-the-way place like this. You like him, don't you?"