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for doing it。 It would have been better for you； however； that there
had been no will。〃
〃How？〃
〃It makes it look the more like a scheme：the will might have been
disputed。〃
〃Why do you saymight have been？〃
〃Because it is not worth disputing now。 If the marriage stands； it
annuls the will。〃
〃I did not know； and I suppose she did not know either。 Or perhaps
she wanted to make the thing sure： if the marriage was not enough；
the will would beshe may have thought。 But I knew nothing of it。〃
〃You did not？〃
〃Of course I did not。〃
Mr。 Graeme held his peace。 For the first time he doubted Donal's
word。
〃But I wanted to have a little talk with you；〃 resumed Donal。 〃I
want to know whether you think your duty all to the owner of the
land； or in any measure to the tenants also。〃
〃That is easy to answer： one employed by the landlord can owe the
tenant nothing。〃
It was not just the answer he would have given to another
questioner。
〃Do you not owe him justice？〃 asked Donal。
〃Every legal advantage I ought to take for my employer。〃
〃Even to the grinding of the faces of the poor？〃
〃I have nothing to do； as his employ？ with my own ideas as to what
may be equitable。〃
He drew the line thus hard in pure opposition to Donal。
〃What then would you say if the land were your own？ Would you say
you had it solely for your own and your family's good； or for that
of the tenants as well？〃
〃I should very likely reason that what was good for them would in
the long run be good for me too。But if you want to know how I have
treated the tenants； there are intelligent men amongst them； not at
all prejudiced in favour of the factor！〃
〃I wish you would be open with me；〃 said Donal。
〃I prefer keeping my own place；〃 rejoined Mr。 Graeme。
〃You speak as one who found a change in me；〃 returned Donal。 〃There
is none。〃
So saying he shook hands with him； bade him good morning； and turned
with the depression of failure。
〃I did not lead up to the point properly！〃 he said to himself。
CHAPTER LXXXIII。
INSIGHT。
Mr。 Graeme was a good sort of man； and a gentleman； but he was not
capable of meeting Donal on the ground on which he approached him：
on that level he had never set foot。 There is nothing more
disappointing to the generous man than the way in which his absolute
frankness is met by the man of the worldalways looking out for
motives； and imagining them after what is in himself。
There was great confidence between the brother and sister； and as he
walked homeward； Mr。 Graeme was not so well pleased with himself as
to think with satisfaction on the report of the interview he could
give Kate。 He did not accuse himself with regard to anything he had
said； but he felt his behaviour influenced by jealousy of the
low…born youth who had supplanted him。 For； if Percy could not
succeed to the title； neither could he have succeeded to the
property； and but for the will or the marriage； perhaps but for the
two together； he would himself have come in for that also！ The will
was worth nothing except the marriage was disputed： annul the
marriage； and the will was of force！
He told his sister； as nearly as he could； all that had passed
between them。
〃If he wanted me to talk to him；〃 he said； 〃why did he tell me that
about Forgue？ It was infernally stupid of him！ But what's bred in
the bone！ A gentleman 's not made in a day！〃
〃Nor in a thousand years； Hector！〃 rejoined his sister。 〃Donal Grant
is a gentleman in the best sense of the word！ That you say he is
not； lets me see you are vexed with yourself。 He is a little awkward
sometimes； I confess； but only when he is looking at a thing from
some other point of view； and does not like to say you ought to have
been looking at it from the same。 And you can't say he shuffles； for
he never stops till he has done his best to make you！What have you
been saying to him； Hector？〃
〃Nothing but what I have told you； it's rather what I have not been
saying！〃 answered her brother。 〃He would have had me open out to
him； and I wouldn't。 How could I！ Whatever I said that pleased him；
would have looked as if I wanted to secure my situation！ Hang it
all！ I have a good mind to throw it up。 How is a Graeme to serve
under a bumpkin？〃
〃The man is not a bumpkin； he is a scholar and a poet！〃 said the
lady。
〃Pooh！ pooh！ What's a poet？〃
〃One that may or may not be as good a man of business as yourself
when it is required of him。〃
〃Come； come！ don't you turn against me； Kate！ It's hard enough to
bear as it is！〃
Miss Graeme made no reply。 She was meditating all she knew of Donal；
to guide her to the something to which she was sure her brother had
not let him come； and presently she made him recount again all they
had said to each other。
〃I tell you； Hector；〃 she exclaimed； 〃you never made such a fool of
yourself in your life！ If I know human nature； that man is different
from any other you have had to do with。 It will take a woman； a
better woman than your sister； I confess； to understand him； but I
see a little farther into him than you do。 He is a man who； never
having had money enough to learn the bad uses of it； and never
having formed habits it takes money to supply； having no ambition；
living in books not in places； and for pleasure having more at his
command in himself than the richesthe is a man who； I say； would
find money an impediment to his happiness； for he must have a sense
of duty with regard to it which would interfere with everything he
liked best。 Besides； though he does not care a straw for the
judgment of the world where it differs from him； he would be sorry
to seem to go against that judgment where he agrees with it：
scorning to marry any woman for her money； he would not have the
world think he had done so。〃
〃Ah； Katey； there I have you！ The world would entirely approve of
his doing that！〃
〃I will take a better position then：he would not willingly seem to
have done a thing he himself despises。 The man believes himself sent
into the world to teach it something： he would not have it thrown in
his teeth that； after all； he looks to the main chance as keenly as
another！ He would starve before he would have men say soyes； even
say so falsely。 I am as sure he did not marry lady Arctura for her
money； as I am sure lord Forgue； or you； Hector； would have done it
if you had had a chance。There！My conviction is that the bumpkin
sought a fit opening to tell you that the will was to go for
nothing； and that no word need be said about the marriage。 You know
he made you promise not to mention itonly I wormed it out of you！〃
〃That's just like you women！ The man you take a fancy to is always
head and shoulders above other men！〃
〃As you take it so； I will tell you more： that man will never marry
again！〃
〃Wait a bit。 Admiration is sometimes mutual： who knows but he may
ask you next！〃
〃If he did ask me； I might take him； but I should never think so
much of him！〃
〃Heroic Kate！〃
〃If you had been a little more heroic； Hector； you would have
responded to himand found it considerably to your advantage。〃
〃You don't imagine I would be indebted〃
〃Hush！ Hush