"He cares nothing for truth. He scorns it and laughs at it. And yet about the little things of the world he expects his word to be taken as certainly as that of any other gentleman." "I would not take it." "Yes, you would, and would be right too. If he would say he'd pay me a hundred pounds to-morrow, or a thousand, I would have his word as soon as any other man's bond. And yet he has utterly got the better of me, and made me believe that a marriage took place, when there was no marriage. I think I'll have a cup of tea." "You won't go to sleep, papa?" "Oh yes, I shall. When I've been so troubled as that I must have a cup of tea." Mr. Grey was often troubled, and as a consequence Dolly was called up for consultations in the middle of the night. At about one o'clock there came the well-known knock at Dolly's door and the usual invitation. Would she come into her father's room for a few minutes? Then her father trotted back to his bed, and Dolly, of course, followed him as soon as she had clothed herself decently. "Why didn't you tell me?" "I thought I had made up my mind not to go; or I thought rather that I should be able to make up my mind not to go. But it is possible that down there I may have some effect for good." "What does he want of you?" "There is a long question about raising money with which Augustus desires to buy the silence of the creditors." "Could he get the money?" asked Dolly. "Yes, I think he could. The property at present is altogether unembarrassed. To give Mr. Scarborough his due, he has never put his name to a scrap of paper; nor has he had occasion to do so. The Tretton pottery people want more land, or rather more water, and a large sum of money will be forthcoming. But he doesn't see the necessity of giving Mr. Tyrrwhit a penny-piece, or certainly Mr. Hart. He would send them away howling without a scruple. Now, Augustus is anxious to settle with them, for some reason which I do not clearly understand. But he wishes to do so without any interference on his father's part. In fact, he and his father have very different ideas as to the property. The squire regards it as his, but Augustus thinks that any day may make it his own. In fact, they are on the very verge of quarrelling." Then, after a long debate, Dolly consented that her father should go down to Tretton, and act, if possible, the part of peace-maker. CHAPTER XVIII. THE CARROLL FAMILY. "Aunt Carroll is coming to dinner to-day," said Dolly the next day, with a serious face. "I know she is. Have a nice dinner for her. I don't think she ever has a nice dinner at home." "And the three eldest girls are coming." "Three!" "You asked them yourself on Sunday." "Very well. They said their papa would be away on business." It was understood that Mr. Carroll was never asked to the Manor-house. "Business! There is a club he belongs to where he dines and gets drunk once a month. It's the only thing he does regularly."