'I can advise nothing,' said her husband, quite overwhelmed with this misfortune. 'Who could have thought that a----' 'Yes--yes,--it is of no use lamenting. What are we to do? Heavens! there are the church bells again!' Meantime his sisters were with Algernon. They found him sitting grim and determined. Never before had they seen that expression of determination upon a man's face. He absolutely terrified them. 'You are come to try your powers, I suppose?' he said. 'Well; have your say. But remember, no power on earth shall make me marry that detestable old woman.' 'Algernon!' cried his younger sister. 'Is it possible that you ... you ... our own brother, should use these words?' 'A great deal more is possible. I, for one, protest against this abominable sale of men in marriage. I am put up in the market; this rich old lawyer, with a skin of parchment, blood of ink, heart of brown paper, buys me: I will not be bought. Go, tell my mother that she may do her worst. I will not marry the woman.' 'If you will not think of yourself,' said his elder sister coldly, 'pray think of us. Our guests are invited,--they are already assembling in the church; listen--there are the bells!' 'I should like,' said Algy laughing,--'I should like to see the face of Frederica Roe in half an hour's time.' The two girls looked at each other in dismay. What was to be done? what could be said? 'You two little hypocrites!' he went on. 'you and your goody talk about the day of happiness! and the humbugging hymn! and your sham and mockery of the Perfect Woman! and your reign of the Intellect! Wait a little, my sisters; I promise you a pleasing change in the monotony of your lives.' 'Sister,' said the younger, 'he blasphemes. We must leave him. Oh, unhappy boy! what fate are you preparing for yourself?' 'Come,' answered the elder. 'Come away, my dear. Algernon, if you disgrace us this day, you shall be no more brother of mine; I renounce you.' They left him. Presently his father came back. 'Algernon,' he said feebly, 'have you come to your right mind?' 'I have,' he replied--'I have. That is the reason why I am here, and why I am staying here.' 'Then I can do nothing for you. Poor boy! my heart bleeds for you.' 'My poor father,' said his son, speaking in a parable, 'my heart has bled for you a long time. Patience!--wait a little.' 'The last wedding-present has arrived,' said Sir Robert. 'What we are to do I cannot, dare not, think. Your mother must break the news to Frederica.' 'Whose is the wedding-present?' 'It is from Lord Chester--the most magnificent hunter, saddled, and all; with a note.' Algernon sprang to his feet and rushed to the window. On the carriage-drive he saw a little stable-boy leading a horse. He knew the boy as one of Lord Chester's--a sharp, trusty lad. What was the horse saddled for? 'Give me the letter,' he said almost fiercely, to his father. Sir Robert handed him the note, which lady Dunquerque had opened and read:--