CHAPTER XV. 



NOEL-TIDE. 



Christmas came on apace, but the approach of the so-called 

 festive season hardly brought much Joy into the home at 

 The Chase. Penelope moped, dull and disconsolate, the only 

 bright beams which came across her mental horizon being an 

 occasional stolen meeting with her constant lover. Travers, 

 between the two terrible fires of Catchem Court on the one 

 hand, and the action of ' Turnover r. Binkie' on the other, was 

 in the depths of despair. Mr. Septimus Binkie looked glum 

 at the thought of having to very possibly pay up substantial 

 damages on behalf of his precious son ; whilst Mrs. Septimus 

 was furious at the thought of such a ' low-born hussy ' daring 

 to think of an alliance with the family of a Merchant Prince. 

 She, good lady, was also rather in doubt about the wisdom of 

 refusing Konald Dennison as her son-in-law. If he had no 

 money, he was certainly ' County,' and went into the best 

 society ; he was also good-looking, well dressed, a hunting 

 r man, and received on terms of perfect equality at the 



Duke's. She really couldn't make up her mind whether he 

 ought not to be brought back again, but — and at this point 

 it was that her reflections were always broken off in an 

 abrupt fashion. She really did not know what to do, or 

 how to advise, or rather command, for the best. 



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