“Fifteen thousand pounds!” said Fred. “It is no more at present rates of interest than £400 a year. But it’s a pleasant little nest-egg to take out to Australia--with the Dunnings to place if----” “Fifteen thousand pounds,” said Christopher to his son. “It’s a nice little addition. But, my boy, the Bureau is worth ten times as much.” They walked away. They rambled about the house of Ruin and Decay. Presently they walked to the station: the dream of huge wealth was shattered. But still, there was a _solatium_. Mrs. Galley turned to the lawyer. “Sir,” she said, “when will that money be my very own?” “Immediately. It has only to be transferred. If you wish for an advance----” “I wish for protection against my grandson.” “Quite right.” It was Mary Anne, who had not hitherto said a word. “He claims everything as his own.” “Madame,” said the lawyer, “we have acted, father and son, for four generations for your family. Let me assure you that if you allow us your confidence, you shall be amply protected.” Sam looked from one to the other. Then he put on his hat and walked away gloomily. “My dear,” said Mrs. Galley, laying her hand on her grand-daughter’s shoulder, “I am again a gentlewoman. We will live, you and I, in a country house, with a garden and flowers and servants and a pony carriage. No, my dear, I will never go back to the Commercial Road. He is welcome to everything there. Let us stay here in the village and among the people where I was born--you and I together. Oh, my dear--my dear! It is happiness too great. The hand of the Lord is lifted: His wrath is stayed.” Leonard and Constance returned to town together. In the carriage the girl sat beside Leonard in silence, her hands folded, her eyes dropped. “You are a great heiress, Constance,” he said. “I learn that the accumulations now amount to an immense sum. What will you do with all this money?” “I do not know. I shall pretend to myself that I haven’t got any. Perhaps in time someone may help me to use it. I have enough already. I do not want to buy anything that costs large sums. I do not want to dress more expensively. I have as good society as I can desire, and I cannot, I believe, eat any more than I have always done.” “Yet, how happy would some people be at such a windfall!” “The difficulty of doing something with it will be very terrible. Let us never talk about it. Besides, that cousin of yours is going to set the will aside, if he can.” She relapsed into silence. It was not of her newly-acquired fortune that she was thinking. They drove from the station to the “Mansions.” They mounted the stairs to the first-floor. “Let me come in with you, Leonard,” she said. “I want to say something. It had better be said to-day and at once, else it will become impossible.”