That line was plain. If the bank failed, if a thing so cruel and incredible could happen, he still had Garth. He still had Garth to fall back upon, its lands, its wealth, its position. The bank might go, and Ovington—confound him for the silly mismanagement that had brought things to this!—might go into limbo with it, and Clement and Rodd and the rest of them—after all, it was their native level! But for him, born in the purple, there would still be Garth. Only he must be quick. He must not lose a day or an hour. If he waited too long, word of the bank’s embarrassments might reach the old man, re-awaken his prejudices, warp his mind, and all might be lost. The influence on which he counted for success might cease to be his, and in a moment he might find himself out in the cold. Weakened as the Squire was, it would not be wise to trust too much to the change in him! No, he must do it at once. He would ride out that very day, and gain, as he did not doubt that he would gain, the Squire’s permission to speak to Josina. He would leave no room for accidents, and, setting these aside, he did not doubt the result. He carried out his intention in spite of some demur on Clement’s part, who in his new-born zeal thought that in his father’s absence the other ought to remain on the spot. But Arthur had the habit of the upper hand, and with a contemptuous fling at Clement’s own truancies, took it now. He was at Garth before sunset of the short November day, and he had not sat in the Squire’s room ten minutes before chance gave him the opening he desired. The old man had been listening to the town news, and apparently had been engrossed in it. But suddenly, he leant forward, and poked Arthur with the end of his stick. “Here do you tell me!” he said. “What ails the girl? I’ve no eyes, but I’ve ears, and there’s something. What’s amiss with her, eh?” “Do you mean Josina, sir?” “Who else, man? I asked you what’s the matter with her. D’you think I don’t know that there is something? I’ve all my senses but one, thank God, and I can hear if I can’t see! What is it?” Arthur saw in a moment that here was the opportunity, he needed, and he made haste to seize it. “The truth is, sir——” he said with a candor which was attractive. “I was going to speak to you about Josina, I have been wishing to do so for some time.” “Eh? Well?” “I have said nothing to her. But it is possible that she may be aware of my feelings.” “Oh, that’s it, is it?” the Squire said drily. It was impossible to say whether he was pleased or not. “If I had your permission to speak to her, sir?” Arthur felt, now that he had come to the point, just the amount of nervousness which was becoming. “We have been brought up together, and I don’t think that I can be taking you by surprise.” “And you think it will be no surprise to her?” “Well, sir,” modestly, “I think it will not.”