"I should very much like to know what you do mean," said Sir Simon, eyeing her. "The Red Window! Are you thinking of that ridiculous old legend of Sir Aymas and the ghost?" "Yes," assented Miss Randolph, "and of Bernard also." "What has he to do with the matter?" "He asked me, if you showed any signs of relenting, to put a light in the Red Window at the Hall. Then he would come back." "Oh!" Sir Simon did not seem to be displeased. "Then you can put the light in the window when we go back in three weeks." "You will forgive him?" "I don't say that. But I want to see him settled in some reputable way. After all," added the old man, sitting down, "I have been hard on the boy. He is young, and, like all fools, has fallen in love with a pretty face. This Miss Malleson—if she has any right to a name at all—is not the bride I should have chosen for Bernard. Now you, my dear Lucy—" [pg 31] "I am engaged to Julius," she interposed quickly, and came towards the fire. "I love Julius." [pg 31] "Hum! there's no accounting for tastes. I think Bernard is the better of the two." "Bernard has always been a trouble," said Lucy, "and Julius has never given you a moment's uneasiness." "Hum," said Sir Simon again, his eyes fixed on the fire. "I don't believe Julius is so good as you make him out to be. Now Bernard—" "Uncle," said Lucy, who had long ago been instructed to call her relative by this name, "why don't you make it up with Bernard? I assure you Julius is so good, he doesn't want to have the money." "And you?" The old man looked at her sharply. "I don't either. Julius has his own little income, and earns enough as an architect to live very comfortably. Let me marry Julius, dear uncle, and we will be happy. Then you can take back Bernard and let him marry dear, sweet Alice." "I doubt one woman when she praises another," said Sir Simon, dryly. "Alice may be very agreeable." "She is beautiful and clever." The baronet looked keenly at Lucy's flushed face, trying to fathom her reason for praising the
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