"Bah! you need not mind that, my dear boy. I feel certain that some fine morning the Rector will prick Perry-Morton and find out what a bag of wind he is. Besides, see what allies you have--Cynthia, your humble servant, and the lady's heart." Magnus shook his head sadly. "But I say you have, and that it is waiting to beat to any tune you like to teach. Come, the will has no end to do with the body. Just swear you will get well and come and help me put those big brothers in order, and thrash the big rascal who--No, I say though, Magnus, 'pon my word, I think you ought to bless that fellow, for he will frighten poor little Julie right into your arms." Whether it was his friend's encouraging words, and that hopes were raised in the artist's breast, or whether it was simply the fact that he was already mending fast, at all events James Magnus rapidly got better now, and at the end of another two months he was about once more, though still weak from his injury, and likely to be for months. PART ONE, CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. THE RECTOR GIVES WAY. Cyril Mallow was right. He had three women to fight upon his side, and he was not long in bringing their power to bear. Petted, spoiled son as he was, literally idolised by the patient invalid, to whom his presence formed the greater part of the sunshine of her life, he was not long in winning her to his side. "It is no light fancy, dear," he said tenderly, as he sat beside her couch. "She is to me the woman who will bless my life as you have blessed my father's." The sick woman shook her head mournfully. "I repeat my words," he said: "as you have blessed my father's life. Well, I have been restless and foolish, perhaps, but I am sobered down now, and I mean to marry. I cannot help it, mamma, and I am quite prepared to have plenty of opposition to my proposal, and to be told that I am marrying beneath me; all the same, I mean to marry Sage Portlock, and I ask you to help me." Mrs Mallow tried persuasion, pointed out how directly this would be in opposition to his father's wishes, and how the Churchwarden had set his face against it; but all she said only seemed to strengthen her son's desire, and the natural consequence was that very soon Mrs Mallow began to talk earnestly to the Rector, but for quite a month without any other effect than angering him more against his son, whom he accused of fighting against his sisters' prospects. But when the father began to find that with patient pertinacity the son was keeping up his pursuit of Sage, the words of his wife began to have more effect, and one day, during a visit to the school, the old gentleman found himself speaking to Sage with greater deference, and thoughtfully musing over the possibility of her becoming his sons wife. "It is terrible though," he mused; "just as his sisters are about to make brilliant matches. It is like degrading them."