But all they said was of no use in the end. It was not that Selina, poor girl, was in love with Mr. Radcliffe--one could as well have fancied her in love with the grizzly old bear, just then exhibiting himself at Church Dykely in a travelling caravan. But it was her position. Without money, without a home, without a resource of any kind for the future, save that of teaching for her bread, the prospect of becoming mistress of Sandstone Torr was something fascinating. "I do so dislike the thought of spending my whole life in teaching!" she pleaded in apology, the bitter tears streaming down her face. "You cannot tell what it is to feel dependent." "I'd rather sweep chimneys than marry Paul Radcliffe if I were a pretty young girl like you," stormed the old lady. "Since papa died you don't know what the feeling has been," sobbed Selina. "Many a night have I lain awake with the misery of knowing that I had no claim to a place in the wide world." "I am sure you are welcome to stay here," said the Squire. "Yes; as long as I am here myself," added his mother. "After that--well, I suppose it wouldn't be proper for you to stay." "You are all kindness; I shall never meet with such friends again; and I know that I am welcome to stay as long as I like," she answered in the saddest of tones. "But the time of my departure must come sometime; and though the world lies before me, there is no refuge for me in it. It is very good of Mr. Radcliffe to offer to make me his wife and to give me a home at the Torr." "Oh, is it, though!" retorted the Squire. "Trust him for knowing on which side his bread's buttered." "He is of good descent; he has a large income----" "Six hundred a-year," interrupted the Squire, slightingly. "Yes, I am aware that it cannot appear much to you," she meekly said; "but to me it seems unbounded. And that is apart from the house and land." "The house and land must both go to Stephen." "Mr. Radcliffe told me that." "As to the land, it's only a few acres; nothing to speak of," went on the Squire. "I'd as soon boast of my gooseberry bushes. And he can leave all his money to Stephen if he likes. In my opinion, the chances are that he will." "He says he shall always behave fairly by me," spoke poor Selina. "Why, you'd have a step-son older than yourself, Selina!" put in the old lady. "And I don't like him--that Stephen Radcliffe. He's no better than he should be. I saw him one day whipping a poor calf almost to death." Well, they said all they could against it; ten thousand times more than is written down here. Selina wavered: she was not an obstinate girl, but tractable as you please. Only--she had no homestead on the face of the earth, and Mr. Radcliffe offered her one. He did not possess youth, it is true; he had never been handsome: but he was of irreproachable descent--and Selina had a little corner of ambition in her heart; and, above all, he had a fairly good income.