He had, however, calculated that he could afford to accept even the life-income.

If more should come of it, so much the better for him.

He might, at any rate, so arrange the family matters, that his heir, should he have one, should not at his death be called upon to pay something more than half the proceeds of the family property to his mother,--as was now done by himself.
Lord Fawn breakfasted at Fawn Court on the Monday, and his mother sat at the table with him, pouring out his tea.

"Oh, Frederic," she said, "it is so important!" "Just so;--very important indeed.

I should like you to call and see her either to-day or to-morrow." "That's of course." "And you had better get her down here." "I don't know that she'll come.