“An earldom can never come too late--eh?” asked the King, smiling gaily. “For me, your Majesty, all comes too late except--” his voice shook a little--“except the house where I was born.” Charles looked at him gravely. “Upon my soul, Enderby,” said he, “you are a man to be envied. We will not rob you of your good revenge on our house or of your independence. But still we must have our way. Your daughter,”--he turned lightly towards Felicity,--“if she will not refuse me, and she cannot upon the ground that you refused my father--she shall be Countess of Enderby in her own right; with estates in keeping.” Womanlike, Mistress Felicity had no logical argument against an honour so munificently ordained. “And now for your estates--who holds them?” asked the King. “Lord Rippingdale, your Majesty,” answered Enderby. “Yes, yes, my lord Haman! We have already sent for him. It is long past the time.” His brow darkened. Sir Richard Mowbray stepped forward and said: “Your Majesty, Lord Rippingdale is beyond obedience or reparation;” and then he gave the message of the dead man to John Enderby. A month later Mowbray was permitted to return to Court, and with him came John Enderby and the Countess of Enderby. When Charles was told how matters had gone between the younger two, he gave vent to a mock indignation; and in consequence he made Sir Richard Mowbray an earl also, that, as he said, they might both be at the same nearness to him; for etiquette was tyrannical, and yet he did not know which of them he loved better! As for the man so long dishonoured, Charles swore that since John Enderby came not to the King at Court, the King would go to him at Enderby. And go he did in good temper and in great friendship for many a year. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of John Enderby, by Gilbert Parker