"Well, you see, it is a matter that's no secret, and lordship himself has more nor once spoke of it; but you surely must know all about it, sir, by your leave ?" "I confess I have heard some fable or other, but I have paid no attention to it; there are traditions and legends in my own family, Pease, which I really could not remember at this moment." "You'd not forget this one, I think, if you was Lord Ellerbie; because, not to be disrespectful to lordship, he be pretty old now, and you are not, and you are of a more thoughtful habit, I should fancy; but, when my lord be a-talking again Master Philip Scruton gettin' murdered and such like, as if he was of no account, I feel sorry as he should do it. For why? By your leave, this is for why. It be written in family history of the Ellerbies that race should die out, and it is all owing to a crime as was done again the Church some way. The last of family was ordained to come to a bad end, being slain either by his own hand or by assassins. There is many circumstances, Master Hardwick, which Father Busby calls to mind as favouring the conclusion that the Ellerbie days is numbered. It was said in the history that one sign should be as last lordship should neglect church, should deny it; which my Lord Ellerbie have not exactly done, but he do border on it, no doubt by reason of times we live in not bein' comfortable like for Catholics; and you see there only stands between him bein' the last of race, this Master Philip Scruton, whose life, they say, is not worth a year's purchase, by reason of his reprobate ways and his quarrelling propensities and the like; though Father Busby says he is a good Catholic and strict when opportunity offers, and all this to my thinkin' points to interest Lord Ellerbie have in Master Scru ton living, which be his only chance of avoiding the fate as awaits last of the grand old family." Mr. Pease heaved a deep sigh as he concluded his story, and Mr. Hardwick looked at him reflectively. "But supposing Lord Ellerbie married again ?" he remarked, presently. "What's the good of that?" rejoined Pease, with a sneer; "he's been married enough already to have burdened the succession with half a dozen different sets of claimants." Mr. Pease summed up the situation with a loud guffaw. "I will now retire, Mr. Pease," said Mr. Hardwick, solemnly; whereupon the butler's hilarity fell to zero. "By your leave," he said, "old Margaret is waiting to show you to your room. I wish you a good night, sir." Mr. Hardwick bowed stiffly, and tried to walk firmly, and made rather a ridiculous exit, for the floor was polished. But Mr. Pease assisted his master's guest upon his legs with a courtly and gracious "by your leave," as if slipping on your back was the most natural way possible to quit the room, and indeed as if it had been endorsed by warrant of fashion and custom from time immemorial. 104 CHAPTER V. THE SHADOW OF THE GALLOWS. Misfortune does not always wait on vice, HAVARD. USAN HARDWICK visited Grassmoor SUSA much sooner than she expected to do; the reason was Mary Kirk's trouble. Jacob Marks stood in the direst peril; and Mary Kirk, woman-like, had selected the hour of his degradation to confess her love for him. It was in the dead calm summer time, when Grassmoor looked like a dream of |