"Quit this house! and why? Is there not one in this house to whom I owe my fortune and my life?" "Yes; and for that reason I say, 'Go hence:' it is the only return you can make her." "Pshaw!--speak intelligibly." "I will," said Liancourt, gravely. "I have been a watcher with her by your sick-bed, and I know what you must feel already:--nay, I must confess that even the old servant has ventured to speak to me. You have inspired that poor girl with feelings dangerous to her peace." "Ha!" cried Philip, with such joy that Liancourt frowned, and said, "Hitherto I have believed you too honourable to--" "So you think she loves me?" interrupted Philip. "Yes; what then? You, the heir of Beaufort Court, of a rental of L20,000. a year,--of an historical name,--you cannot marry this poor girl?" "Well!--I will consider what you say, and, at all events, I will leave the house to attend the result of the trial. Let us talk no more on the subject now." Philip had the penetration to perceive that Liancourt, who was greatly moved by the beauty, the innocence, and the unprotected position of Fanny, had not confined caution to himself; that with his characteristic well-meaning bluntness, and with the license of a man somewhat advanced in years, he had spoken to Fanny herself: for Fanny now seemed to shun Philip,--her eyes were heavy, her manner was embarrassed. He saw the change, but it did not grieve him; he hailed the omens which he drew from it. And at last he and Liancourt went. He was absent three weeks, during which time the formality of the friendly lawsuit was decided in the plaintiff's favour; and the public were in ecstasies at the noble and sublime conduct of Mr. Robert Beaufort: who, the moment he had discovered a document which he might so easily have buried for ever in oblivion, voluntarily agreed to dispossess himself of estates he had so long enjoyed, preferring conscience to lucre. Some persons observed that it was reported that Mr. Philip Beaufort had also been generous--that he had agreed to give up the estates for his uncle's life, and was only in the meanwhile to receive a fourth of the revenues. But the universal comment was, "He could not have done less!" Mr. Robert Beaufort was, as Lord Lilburne had once observed, a man who was born, made, and reared to be spoken well of by the world; and it was a comfort to him now, poor man, to feel that his character was so highly estimated. If Philip should live to the age of one hundred, he will never become so respectable and popular a man with the crowd as his worthy uncle. But does it much matter? Philip returned to H---- the eve before the day fixed for the marriage of his brother and Camilla. CHAPTER XII. From Night, Sunshine and Day arose--HES