But when Miss Palliser had suddenly,--almost suddenly,--accepted him; and when he had found himself describing the prospects of his life in her presence and in that of Lady Chiltern, the question of the Maule Abbey inheritance had of necessity been discussed.

At Maule Abbey there might be found a home for the married couple, and,--so thought Lady Chiltern,--the only fitting home.

Mr.Maule, the father, certainly did not desire to live there.

Probably arrangements might be made for repairing the house and furnishing it with Adelaide's money.

Then, if Gerard Maule would be prudent, and give up hunting, and farm a little himself,--and if Adelaide would do her own housekeeping and dress upon forty pounds a year, and if they would both live an exemplary, model, energetic, and strictly economical life, both ends might be made to meet.