"We have never denied that," Letitia admitted drily. "We are keeping house now upon the first quarter's rent." "Is it my fancy," her aunt continued, stooping to pick herself a sprig of lavender, "or do you really dislike Mr. Thain?" "Intensely!" Letitia confessed with emphasis. The Duchess was surprised. "Well, really!" she exclaimed. "And to me he seems such a harmless, inoffensive person, absolutely without self-consciousness and not in the least bumptious." "What on earth has he to be bumptious about?" Letitia scoffed. "He has simply made a lot of money out of other people." "That shows brains, at least," her aunt reminded her. "Cunning!" Letitia retorted. The Duchess twirled the sprig of lavender between her fingers. She could not remember ever to have heard her niece so much in earnest. "Well, I hope you don't feel too strongly about him," she said. "I must have him asked to dinner while I am here." "We have anticipated your wishes," Letitia remarked. "He is coming to-night." "I am very glad to hear it," was the satisfied reply. "I shall do my best to persuade him to come up to Scotland later on. There is nothing that Henry enjoys more than a little flutter in American railways. Perhaps he will help us to make some money." "Personally," Letitia said slowly, "I should be very careful how I trusted Mr. Thain." The Duchess was shocked. "You carry your aversions too far, my dear," she remonstrated. "Perhaps, I only know that he sold father a lot of shares which it is my profound conviction are entirely worthless." "Sold your father shares?" the Duchess repeated. "I don't understand. How on earth could Reginald pay for any shares!" "He gave what is called an acceptance," Letitia explained. "It falls due in about six weeks." The Duchess smiled. She had a great idea of her own capacity for business. "My dear," she said, "if between now and then the shares have not improved sufficiently for your father to make a profitable sale, Mr. Thain can extend the time of payment by renewing the bill." "You have more confidence in Mr. Thain than I have," Letitia remarked drily. Her aunt was a little puzzled. She decided to change the conversation. "Where is Charles this morning?" she enquired. "In the library with father. They are discussing possible settlements. I thought that sort of thing was always left to lawyers." "I hope you are happier about your marriage than you seem," her aunt observed. "Charles is quite a _parti_, in a way, you know, although he is not rich." "Oh, I suppose it may as well be Charles as any one else," Letitia assented, a little drearily. The Duchess shook her head.