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This jarred on Mrs。 Dodd。 She bore it in silence some time； but with the grief it revived and sharpened by contrast； and the polite effort to hide her distress； found herself becoming hysterical： then she made the usual signal to Julia； and beat an early retreat。 She left Julia in the drawing…room； and went and locked herself in her own room。 〃Oh； how can they be so cruel as to laugh and giggle in my David's house！〃 She wept sadly； and for the first time felt herself quite lonely in the world： for what companionship between the gay and the sad hearted？ Poor thing； she lived to reproach herself even with this； the nearest approach she ever made to selfishness。
Ere long she crept into Julia's room and humbly busied herself packing her trunks for the wedding tour。 The tears fell fast on her white hands。
She would not have been left alone a minute if Julia's mind had not been occupied just then with an affectionate and amiable anxiety： she earnestly desired to reconcile her Alfred and his sister before the wedding； and she sat in the drawing…room thinking whether it could be done； and how。
At last she sat down blushing； and wrote a little note； and rang the bell for Sarah； and sent it courageously into the dining…room。
Sarah very prudently listened at the keyhole before entering； for she said to herself； 〃If they are talking free； I shan't go in till it's over。〃
The persons so generously suspected were discussing a parchment Alfred had produced； and wanted signed： 〃You are our trustee； my boy；〃 said he to Edward： 〃so just write your name here； and mine comes here； and the witness's there： the Doctor and Sarah will do。 Send for a pen。〃
〃Let's read it first； please。〃
〃Read it！ What for？〃
〃Catch me signing a paper without reading it； my boy。〃
〃What； can't you trust me？ 〃 inquired Alfred； hurt。
〃Oh yes。 And can't you trust me？〃
〃There's a question： why I have appointed you my Trusty in the Deed； he； he。〃
〃Well then trust me without my signing； and I'll trust you without reading。〃
Sampson laughed at this retort； and Alfred reddened； he did not want the Deed read。 But while he hesitated； Sarah came in with Julia's note； asking him to come to her for a minute。 This sweet summons made him indifferent to prosaic things。 〃Well； read away；〃 said he： 〃one comfort； you will be no wiser。〃
〃What； is it in Latin？〃 asked Edward with a wry face。
〃No such luck。 Deeds used to be in Latin； but Latin could not be made obscure enough。 So now Dark Deeds are written in an unknown tongue called 'Lawyerish；' where the sense is 'as one grain of wheat in two bushels of chaff；' pick it out if you can。
〃Whatever man has done man may do；〃 said Dr。 Sampson stoutly。 〃You have rid it； and yet understood it： so why mayn't we； ye monster o' conceit？〃
〃Read it？〃 said Alfred。 〃I never read it： would not read it for a great deal of money。 The moment I saw what a senseless rigmarole it was； I flung it down and insisted on the battological author furnishing me with an English translation。 He complied： the crib occupies just twenty lines； the original three folio pages； as you see。 That crib； gentlemen；〃 added he severely； 〃is now in my waistcoat pocket； and you shall never see it for your impudence。 No； seat yourself by that pool of parchment （sedet eternumque sedebit； &c。） and fish for Lawyer Crawford's ideas； rari nantes in gurgite vasto。〃 And with this he flew up…stairs on the wings of love。 Julia met him in the middle of the room all in a flutter： 〃It is to ask you a favour。 I am unhappyabout one thing。〃
She then leaned one hand softly on his shoulder； and curving her lovely supple neck looked round into his face and watched it as she preferred her petition： 〃It is about Jane and you。 I cannot bear to part you two in this way： only think six days you have not spoken； and I am the cause。〃
〃Not the only cause； love。〃
〃I don't know； darling。 But it is very cruel。 I have got my dear mother and Edward； you have nobodybut Me。 Alfred；〃 said she with gentle impetuosity； 〃now is your time； your papa is away。〃
〃Oh； is he？〃 said Alfred carelessly。
〃Yes。 Sarah says Betty says he is gone to Uncle Thomas。 So I know you won't refuse me； my own Alfred： it is to go to your sister this minute and make it up。〃
〃What； and leave you？〃 objected Alfred ruefully。
〃No； no； you are with the gentlemen； you know： you are not here； _in reality；_ till tea。 Make them an excuse： say the truth； say it is Me； and come back to me with good news。〃
He consented on these terms。
Then she armed him with advice： 〃You go to make peace； it is our last chance； now remember； you must be very generous； very sweet…tempered。 Guard against your impetuosity。 Do take warning by me； see how impetuous I am。 And then； you know； after all； she is only a lady； and a great creature like you ought not to be ruffled by anything so small as a lady's tongue： the idea！ And； dearest； don't go trusting to your logic； but _do_ descend to the arts of persuasion； because they are far more convincing somehow： please try them。〃
〃Yes。 Enumerate them。〃
〃Why； kissing and coaxing； anddon't ask _me。_〃
〃Will you bestow a specimen of those arts on me if I succeed？〃
〃Try me；〃 said she： and looked him earnestly in the face； but lowered her long lashes slowly and shyly； as she realised to what her Impetuosity was pledging itself。
Alfred got his hat and ran to Musgrove Cottage。
A man stepped out of the shadow of a hedge opposite Albion Villa； and followed him； keeping in shadow as much as possible。
The door of Musgrove Cottage was opened to him by old Betty with a joyful start！ 〃Mr。 Alfred； I _de_clare！ Come in； there's only me and Miss。 Master is in Yorkshire； and that there crocodile； Peggy； she is turned awayfor sauceand a good riddance of bad rubbish： Miss is in the parlour。〃
She ushered him triumphantly in。 Jane was seated reading： she dropped her book； and ran and kissed him with a cry of joy。 So warm a reception surprised him agreeably； and simplified his task。 He told her he was come to try and make it up with her before the wedding： 〃We lose your presence； dear Jenny；〃 said he； 〃and that is a great grief to us； valuing you as we do： don't refuse us your good wishes to…morrow。〃
〃Dearest Alfred；〃 said she； 〃can you think it？ I pray for you day and night。 And I have begun to blame myself for being so sure you were in the wrong and poor papa faultless。 What you sent me half in jest； I take in earnest 'Judge not that ye be not judged。'〃
〃Why； Jenny；〃 said Alfred； 〃how red your eyes are。〃
At this observation the young saint laid her head on her brother's shoulder and had a good cry like any other girl。 When she recovered a little she told him； yes； she had been very unhappy： that he had always been a dear good brother to her； and the only one she had； and that it cut her to the heart not to be at his wedding； it seemed so unkind。
Alfred set her on his kneeshe had more soul than bodyand kissed her and comforted her： and； in this happy revival of natural affection； his heart opened； he was off his guard； and told her all： gave her the several proofs their father had got the L。 14；000。 Jane； arrested by the skill and logical clearness with which he marshalled the proofs； listened in silence； and presently a keen shudder ran through her frame； and reminded him he was setting a daughter against her father。
〃There；〃 said he； 〃I always said I would never tell you； and now I've done it。 Well； at least you will see with what consideration； and unheard…of leniency； the Dodds for our sake are treating Mr。 Richard Hardie。 Just compare their conduct to him with his to them。 And which is most to his advantage？ that I should marry Julia； and give Mrs。 Dodd the life interest in my ten thousand pounds； to balance his dishonesty； or for him to be indicted as a thief？ Ned Dodd told us plainly he would have set the police on him； had any other but his son been the informant〃
〃Did _he_ say that？ Oh； Alfred； this is a miserable world。〃
〃I can't see that： it is the jolliest world in the world： everything is bright and lovely； and everybody is happy except a few sick people； and a few peevish ones that run to meet trouble。 To…morrow I marry my sweet Julia； Richard Hardie will find we two don't molest him； nor trouble our heads about him。 He will get used to us； and one fine day we shall say to him； 'Now； we know all about the L。 14；000： just leave it by will to dear Jenny； and let my friend Dodd marry her； and you can enjoy it unmolested for your lifetime。' He will consent： and you will marry Ned； and then you'll find the world has been wickedly slandered by dishonest men and dismal dogs。〃
In this strain he continued till he made her blush a good deal and smile a little； a sad smile。
But at last she said； 〃If I was sure all this is true； I think I should gowith a heavy heartto your wedding。 If I don't； the best part of me will be there； my prayers； and my warm； warm wishes for you both。 Kiss her for me； and tell her so； and that I hope we shall meet round His throne soon； if we cannot meet at His altar to…morrow。〃
Brother and sister then kissed one another affectionately； and Alfred ran back like the wind to Albion Cottage。 Julia was not in the