She told everything to her husband, shewing him Lady Mary's letter, and the effect upon him was so great that it made him ill.

"It will be better for me," he said, "to turn my face to the wall and die before I know it." He took to his bed, and they of his household did think that he would die.

He hardly spoke except to his wife, and when alone with her did not cease to moan over the destruction which had come upon the house.

"If it could only have been the other brother," said Lady Scroope.
"There can be no change," said the Earl.

"He must do as it lists him with the fortune and the name and the honours of the family." Then on one morning there was a worse bulletin than heretofore given by the doctor, and Lady Scroope at once sent off the letter which was to recall the nephew to his uncle's bedside.