She at once hurried to his room. He made light of his hurts, and declared that he should come down to breakfast as usual. She persuaded him, however, to remain in bed. He consented to do so on condition that she would send over to May, and account for his non-appearance at Downside that day. Sir Ralph was very indignant at hearing of the outrage, and determined at once to take steps to discover the perpetrators. He had wished to speak to his son, and was annoyed at being unable to do so, as Lady Castleton persuaded him that any agitation would be injurious to Harry. A surgeon had been sent for and gave a favourable report, complimenting Captain Headland on the way he had treated his patient. Julia and Headland met constantly in Harry's room, both being anxious to assist in nursing him. In a couple of days he was able to dress and come downstairs. Perhaps he would have remained up longer had he known the ordeal he was about to go through. Harry was sitting in the drawing-room when he received a message from Sir Ralph, requesting him to come into the study. "My father is going to question me about May," he thought. "I had hoped to escape this for some time to come; but I must be firm and not allow his prejudices to cause her unhappiness." He walked slowly in. Sir Ralph closed the door and placed him in an arm-chair, and took his usual seat at his writing-table. "Harry," he said, "I had sufficient confidence in you to suppose that, when you brought your friend Captain Headland to the house, you knew that he was a man of family and good connections, so that should he fall in love with your sister no objections were likely to be raised. Am I right in giving you credit for this amount of wisdom?" Harry felt greatly relieved on finding that he was not to be questioned about May. "My friend Headland, sir," he said, "is a first-rate officer and an excellent fellow, and is sure to gain credit for himself and to rise high in the service." "That may be," observed Sir Ralph. "But I wish to know if he is a man of family and a fit match for your sister, for I understand that he has of late paid her great attention." "I think so highly of him that I am sure any girl would be fortunate in winning his affections," answered Harry. "That's not the question I wish to have answered. I wish to know whether he is of good family, and has a sufficient fortune to support a wife, as Julia ought to be supported." "On the first point I cannot enlighten you," answered Harry; "for I confess that I do not know of what family he is, but he has been very fortunate in making prize money, and I am sure he has quite enough to live in a way to satisfy Julia."