“I am satisfied,” replied Maltravers, after a pause, and in a voice that expressed more than his words. There is in some natures so great a hoard of generosity, that it often dulls their acuteness. Maltravers could not believe that frankness could be wholly a mask--it was an hypocrisy he knew not of. He himself was not incapable, had circumstances so urged him, of great crimes; nay, the design of one crime lay at that moment deadly and dark within his heart, for he had some passions which in so resolute a character could produce, should the wind waken them into storm, dire and terrible effects. Even at the age of thirty, it was yet uncertain whether Ernest Maltravers might become an exemplary or an evil man. But he could sooner have strangled a foe than taken the hand of a man whom he had once betrayed. “I love to think you friends,” said Florence, gazing at them affectionately, “and to you, at least, Lumley, such friendship should be a blessing. I always loved you much and dearly, Lumley--loved you as a brother, though our characters often jarred.” Lumley winced. “For Heaven’s sake,” he cried, “do not speak thus tenderly to me--I cannot bear it, and look on you and think--” “That I am dying. Kind words become us best when our words are approaching to the last. But enough of this--I grieved for your loss.” “My poor uncle!” said Lumley, eagerly changing the conversation--“the shock was sudden; and melancholy duties have absorbed me so till this day, that I could not come even to you. It soothed me, however, to learn, in answer to my daily inquiries, that Ernest was here. For my part,” he added with a faint smile, “I have had duties as well as honours devolved on me. I am left guardian to an heiress, and betrothed to a child.” “How do you mean?” “Why, my poor uncle was so fondly attached to his wife’s daughter, that he has left her the bulk of his property: a very small estate--not L2000 a year--goes with the title (a new title, too, which requires twice as much to carry it off and make its pinchbeck pass for gold). In order, however, to serve a double purpose, secure to his _protegee_ his own beloved peerage, and atone to his nephew for the loss of wealth--he has left it a last request, that I should marry the young lady over whom I am appointed guardian, when she is eighteen--alas! I shall then be at the other side of forty! If she does not take to so mature a bridegroom, she loses thirty--only thirty of the L200,000 settled upon her, which goes to me as a sugar-plum after the nauseous draught of the young lady’s ‘No.’ Now, you know all. His widow, really an exemplary young woman, has a jointure of L1500 a year, and the villa. It is not much, but she is contented.”