Mr. Beaufort coloured very much at the remark and the question, and, forcing a smile, said,-- "You are severe. But you don't know what it is to be father to a young man." "Then a great many young women have told me sad fibs! But you are right in your sense of the phrase. No, I never had an heir apparent, thank Heaven! No children imposed upon me by law--natural enemies, to count the years between the bells that ring for their majority, and those that will toll for my decease. It is enough for me that I have a brother and a sister--that my brother's son will inherit my estates--and that, in the meantime, he grudges me every tick in that clock. What then? If he had been my uncle, I had done the same. Meanwhile, I see as little of him as good breeding will permit. On the face of a rich man's heir is written the rich man's _memento mori_! But _revenons a nos moutons_. Yes, if you give your daughter no fortune, your death will be so much the more profitable to Arthur!" "Really, you take such a very odd view of the matter," said Mr. Beaufort, exceedingly shocked. "But I see you don't like the marriage; perhaps you are right." "Indeed, I have no choice in the matter; I never interfere between father and children. If I had children myself, I will, however, tell you, for your comfort, that they might marry exactly as they pleased--I would never thwart them. I should be too happy to get them out of my way. If they married well, one would have all the credit; if ill, one would have an excuse to disown them. As I said before, I dislike poor relations. Though if Camilla lives at the Lakes when she is married, it is but a letter now and then; and that's your wife's trouble, not yours. But, Spencer--what Spencer!--what family? Was there not a Mr. Spencer who lived at Winandermere--who----" "Who went with us in search of these boys, to be sure. Very likely the same--nay, he must be so. I thought so at the first." "Go down to the Lakes to-morrow. You may hear something about your nephews;" at that word Mr. Beaufort winced. "'Tis well to be forearmed."