Aspenick's want of warmth about our new acquisitions (Cartmell and I always said "our" when we meant Jenny's) no doubt had a personal cause--though it was not hard to appreciate also his class-feeling. The property of Oxley lay full between Overington and Fillingford Manor; but since her return Jenny had severed Aspenick's house from Fillingford's in another way than that. No more was heard about Lacey and Eunice. Cartmell was no gossip and a man of few questions unless about a horse; yet now he turned his rubicund face toward me with an air of humorous puzzle. "Any news from the house?" "Nothing particular--just at present," I answered. "I've looked at it this way, and I've looked at it that way, and I'm flummoxed. Why early possession--and five hundred paid for it? She can't want the house--and as business it's ridiculous. But you know her way--'My wish, Mr. Cartmell, and please no words about it!'" "She generally has a purpose--she doesn't act at random," I remarked. "A purpose! Lord love you, half a dozen! And, what's more, I believe you generally know them. But, as she knows, you're devilish safe. There it is! I could make her a really rich woman if she'd let me--but with money thrown away like that, and her Institute, and what not--!" He looked as gloomy as if Jenny were on the verge of bankruptcy and all our livelihoods taking wings. "I'll tell you one thing. I think you'll have to open the purse-strings wider still before many days are out." He looked at me very sharply. "The marriage coming off? And a big settlement? Well, that'd be right enough. All the same, I can't say I like it, Austin. Fillingford's son! Doesn't it stick in your throat a bit?" "I said I'd tell you one thing. I didn't say I'd tell you two or three more." "All the town says it. My word, you should hear Mrs. Jepps! My wife says it's something terrible." He twinkled in amusement again. "Lord, it's sometimes worth being a bit staggered yourself just to see how much worse the thing takes other people!" "Mrs. Jepps and the rest of the town had better wait a little. It's a pity to waste good indignation." "Aye, and folks hate being cheated of a scandal they've made up their minds to." "Scandal's a hard word in the case that you're thinking of." "I've no great stock of words outside of a conveyance of land--there I can use as many as any man except counsel. But, to tell the truth, it goes against my stomach." "It sticks in your throat! And it goes against your stomach! And all this before you've been even asked to swallow it! Aren't you considerably premature?" "You think there's a chance she won't--?" His manner was openly eager. "Yes--but hold your tongue, and pay up your five hundred for early possession." "Upon my soul, Austin, I never more than half believed it. But when everybody buzzes a thing into a man's ears--and his own wife first among them--and he sees no other meaning of things, why----"