“Weaker, and less able to bear treatment. He is irritable, too, at that girl's absence. He asks for her constantly, and confuses her in his mind with Mary.” “And what does Schubart think?” “I'll tell you what he _says_,” replied she, with a marked emphasis on the last word. “He says the case is hopeless; he has seen such linger for weeks, but even a day--a day--” She tried to go on; but her voice faltered, her lip trembled, and she was silent. “I had begun to believe it so,” muttered Martin, gloomily. “He scarcely recognized me yesterday.” “He is perfectly collected and sensible now,” said Lady Dorothea, in her former calm tone. “He spoke of business matters clearly and well, and wished to see Scanlan.” “Which I trust you did not permit?” asked Martin, hurriedly. “I told him he should see him this evening, but there is no necessity for it. Scanlan may have left this before evening.” “You suspect that Scanlan would say something,--would mention to him something of this affair?” “Discretion is not the quality of the low-born and the vulgar,” said she, haughtily; “self-importance alone would render him unsafe. Besides,”--and this she said rapidly,--“there is nothing to detain the man here, when he knows that we accept his conditions.” “And are we to accept them?” said Martin, anxiously. “Dare we refuse them? What is the alternative? I suppose what you have done with your Jew friend has been executed legally--formally?” “Trust _him_ for that; he has left no flaw there!” said Martin, bitterly. “I was certain of it,” said she, with a scarcely perceptible sneer. “Everything, therefore, has been effected according to law?” “Yes, I believe so,” replied he, doggedly. “Then really there is nothing left to us but Scanlan. He objects to Repton; so do I. I always deemed him obtrusive and familiar. In the management of an Irish estate such qualities may be reckoned essential. I know what we should think of them in England, and I know where we should place their possessor.” “I believe the main question that presses now is, are we to have an estate at all?” said the Captain, bitterly. “Yes, sir, you have really brought it to that,” rejoined she, with equal asperity. “Do you consent to his having the agency?” asked Martin, with an immense effort to suppress passion. “Yes.” “And you agree, also, to his proposal for Mary?” “It is matter of complete indifference to me who Miss Martin marries, if she only continue to reside where she does at present. I 'm certain she 'd not consult _me_ on the subject; I'm sure I'd never control _her_. It is a _mésalliance_, to be sure; but it would be equally so, if she, with her rustic habits and uneducated mind, were to marry what would be called her equal. In the present case, she 'll be a little better than her station; in the other, she 'd be vastly beneath it!” “Poor Molly!” said he, half aloud; and, for the first time, there was a touch of his father's tone and manner in the words.