“‘It’s pretty well out of me now,’ says Luttrell, with a sigh. “‘It is not,’ says the other. ‘If you had a good dinner of beef, and a tumbler of strong punch in you, you’d be as impudent this minute as ever you were.’ “‘Maybe you’re right,’ says Luttrell. “‘I know I am, Mr. Luttrell. You’re not the first of your family I was intimate with. You’re an ould stock, and I know ye well.’ “‘And how are we to be cured?’ says Luttrell. “‘Easy enough,’ says he. ‘When three generations of ye marry peasants, it will take the pride out of your bones, and you’ll behave like other people.’ “‘We couldn’t do it,’ says Luttrell. “‘Try,’ says the other. “‘Impossible!’ “‘So you’d say about livin’ on potatoes, and drinkin’ well water.’ “‘That’s true,’ says Luttrell. “‘So you’d say about ragged clothes and no shoes to your feet.’” Luttrell nodded. “‘So you’d say about settin’ in a cave and talking over family matters to--to a stranger,’ says he, with a laugh. “‘I believe there’s something in it,’ said Luttrell; ‘but sure some of us might like to turn bachelors.’ “‘Let them, and welcome,’ says he. ‘I don’t want them to do it one after the other. I’m in no hurry. Take a hundred years--take two, if you like, for it.’ “‘Done,’ says Lnttrell. ‘When a man shows a fair spirit, I’ll always meet him in the same. Give me your hand; it’s a bargain.’ “‘I hurt my thumb,’ says he; ‘but take my tail, ‘twill do all the same.’ And though Mr. Luttrell didn’t like it, he shook it stoutly, and only let it go when it began to burn his fingers. And from that day he was rich, even till he died; but after his death nobody ever knew where to find the gold, nor ever will till the devil tells them.” “And did his family keep the bargain; did they marry the peasants?” asked Grenfell. “Two of them. One before, John Lnttrell of Arran; and another must do it, and soon too, for they say the two hundred years is near out now.” “And is it said that the remedy succeeded?” asked Vyner; “are the Luttrells cured of their family pride?” “They can’t be till the third marriage takes place; indeed, my grandfather says they’ll be worse than ever just before they’re cured; ‘for,’ says he, ‘every one that makes a bargain with the devil thinks he has the best of it.’” “And that, I suspect, is a mistake, Katherine,” said Vyner. She threw down her eyes, and seemed lost in thought, making no reply whatever to his remark. “I’d have had no dealings with him at all,” said Vyner. “You are rich, and you don’t need him,” said she, almost fiercely, as though his words had conveyed a sneer. “That’s just it, Kitty,” said Grenfell; “or if he did want him it would be for something different from money.” She gave a saucy toss of her head, as though to show she agreed with him, and turned to the table where Vyner was at work with his chalks. “That’s me,” said she, gravely. “I like your own face better,” said Vyner.