“There is much good sense in that question,” said Sir Within, in French; and he now arose to look closer at the old countryman. “I think, Malone, we have already provided for that.” “No, your honour. You said how it would be if Kitty wanted to go back herself, or if I sent for her; and how, too, it would be if, when she was grown up and fit to be married, that she ought to have consent from your honour, or the guardians that your honour wud give her in charge to. But now I want to know how it would be if, after the child was used to fine ways of livin’, she was to be sent away--without any fault of hers, maybe, but just because--no matter for what rayson”--here his eyes glanced rapidly at Georgina--“I’d like to ax, what’s to become of her then?” “I scarcely think we can go so far as to provide for every casualty in life; but it will perhaps satisfy you to know that she’ll have two guardians to watch over her interests. One of them is this gentleman here.” “And who’s the other?” asked Malone, curiously. “The other? The other is not yet formally declared, but you will be fully satisfied with him, that much I guarantee.” Malone did not give much attention to this speech, his whole interest seeming now to concentrate in the person of him who was to be the girl’s guardian. “Is your honour married?” asked he at length of Sir Within. “I have not that happiness,” said the old diplomatist, with a grace of manner that he might have displayed to a sovereign. “There it is again,” sighed Malone; “she’ll have nowhere to go to if she’s turned out. Has his honour a house near this?” “Yes. I shall be happy to show it to you,” said Sir Within, politely. “I declare, Malone, if I’m ever in want of a guardian, I’ll look you up. I never heard of your equal in foresight,” said Georgina, laughing. “Wouldn’t I need to be, my Lady? Who has the child to look to barrin’ myself? And maybe, then, she wouldn’t have even me. I’m seventy-eight last April; and his honour there isn’t very young either.” “Trop vrai, ma foi,” said Sir Within, trying to laugh gaily, but reddening to his forehead as he turned away. “You must have more patience than I, Gervais, to prolong this discussion,” said Georgina, angrily. “I vow I’d anticipate the old man’s objection, and pack them off both together this very morning.” Every syllable of this was overheard by Malone, though he affected not to hear it, and stood a perfect picture of immobility. Sir Gervais, who up to this was rather amused by the casuistical turn of the peasant’s mind, now seemed rather to lose temper, and said, “Such an arrangement as we contemplated, Malone, requires a little exercise of good faith on both sides; if you believe that you cannot extend that trust in us so far as we expect from you, I really think the best and easiest way would be to do as this young lady says--end our contract at once.”