"What wildfire burns atwixt us is of his own kindling," said Squire Cleverdon. "And does she reckon on setting herself in my armchair, and ruling in my house, indeed! My son I might forgive had he married any other, but not for having taken Urith." "One beggarly marriage is enough in the family," said Magdalen. The expression had slipped her tongue without consideration. She saw at once, by the twitching of her brother's muscles, that she had stung and enraged him. She hastened to amend her error by saying, "Yes, you were drawn in by their designing ways. You had not then the knowledge of the world that you now have. Having been entangled by unscrupulous and poor wretches yourself, you would not have your son fall a prey to the like--but he would sow his wild oats, and now must reap his crop." "Yes," said old Anthony, "he must reap his crop, which will not grow one of oats, but of thistles and nettles. 'Tis a cruel shame that Kilworthy should go from the family." "It has never been in it." "That is true--never in actual possession, but so long in prospect as to almost constitute a claim." "But gone it is. Gone past the possibility of your getting it." "I am not so confident of that as you seem to be," said Old Cleverdon, snappishly. "In faith, sister Magdalen, you appear wondrous blind. Is there no way of it coming, nevertheless, to be joined to Hall?" "None that I can see. If Fox took Bessie to wife, he could not bring Kilworthy with him, for that goes with Julian." "Exactly. It goes with Julian; but who will take her?" "You have no second son." "No, I have not." "Surely you do not dream of making Luke your heir, and marrying him to Julian Crymes?" "Luke!--who defied me by marrying Anthony to that hussy?" "I thought not, brother, but--as the Lord is my helper--I see no other way of compassing it." "It has never lightened on your mind that I might take a second wife." "You!"--Magdalen fell back in her chair, and raised her hands in amazement. "You, brother Anthony! You!" "Even so," he answered, grimly. "I am not young, but I am lusty; I am a man of substance, and I reckon that Mistress Julian is not so besotted as was my son. She, I presume, has had a desire like to mine, that the two estates should be united, so as to make a large domain, and as she cannot effect this by marrying an unripe fool, she can gain the same end by taking me, a wise and mellow man of the world. The end is the same. The two properties are united, and Julian Crymes has ever struck me as having a clear and healthy mind. So--I doubt not--she will be as content to have me as that Merry Andrew and Jack o' the Green, who has thrown himself away at Willsworthy." Magdalen's astonishment held her speechless for some time; at last, seeing that her brother was offended at the astonishment she exhibited, she said, "But, brother! has she given you any--hopes?"