Nell of Shorne Mills

The earl colored slightly.

"Now look here, Drake; I'm always suspicious of that d----d quiet way of

yours! I was very glad when Lady Angleford told me that you were coming

here, and I made up my mind that I would let bygones be bygones and act

squarely by you. As I said, I'm not a bit sorry that I married; no,

indeed!--you've seen Lady Angleford--but I don't want to leave you in

the lurch. I don't want you to suffer more than--than can be helped.

I've been thinking the matter over, and I'll tell you what I'll do. Have

some more port."

Unluckily for Drake, the old man filled his own glass before passing the

bottle. Drake sipped his port and waited, and the earl went on: "Of course, I meant to continue your allowance; but I can see that under

the circumstances that wouldn't be sufficient. Something might happen to

me----"

"I sincerely trust nothing will happen to you, sir," said Drake.

The earl grunted.

"Well, I'm not so young as I was; and I might get chucked off my horse,

or--or something of that sort; and then you'd be in a hole, I imagine;

for I suppose you've got through most of your mother's money?"

"A great deal of it," admitted Drake.

"Yes; I thought so. Well, look here; I'll tell you what I'll do, Drake.

As you may know, Lady Angleford has a fortune of her own. Her father was

a millionaire. That leaves me free to do what I like with my own money.

Now, I'll settle ten thousand a year on you, Drake--but on one

condition."

Drake was considerably startled. After all, ten thousand a year is a

large sum; and though the earl was immensely rich, Drake had not

expected him to be so liberal. On ten thousand a year one can manage

very comfortably, even in England. Drake thought of his debts, of all

that a settled income would mean to him, and his heart warmed with

gratitude toward his uncle.

"You are more than kind, sir," he said. "Your liberality takes my breath

away. What was the condition?"

The earl fidgeted a little in his chair.

"Look here, Drake," he said, "I've never worried you about your way of

life; I know that young men will be young men, and that you've lived in

a pretty fast set. That was your business and not mine, and as long as

you kept afloat I didn't choose to interfere. But I think it's time you

settled down; and I'll settle this money on you on condition that you do

settle down. You're engaged to a very nice girl--just you marry and

settle down, and I'll provide the means, as I say."