"No, Julian, nothing. That was a bright and delightful dream. I have awaked out of it, and remember nothing."
"I told you that Fox had set his mind on Bessie--your Bessie. You scouted the notion, but I spoke the truth. And he has been as open to his father and me thereon as is possible for him. You, Anthony, have a good and kind nature--you are too ready to trust any one. Always upright and straightforward yourself, never thinking evil in your heart, never putting forth a foot to trip up an enemy--certainly never a friend."
Anthony's head was raised. This was what he wanted--a few words of commendation came down as warm rays of sunshine on his depressed and drooping heart.
"You, Tony, have never mistrusted Fox, for it was not in you to mistrust any one. But I know his real nature. He is seeking his own ends. He has been over at Hall two and three times a week, and----" she laughed, "will you believe it? has been cajoling the old man, your father, into the belief that it is possible he may win and wear me, as--as--" she hesitated. "As he was disappointed----"
Anthony turned and looked at her, and their eyes met. Hers fell, and he looked again hastily at the window-pane--at the initials, and the lover's knot between them. The moisture had collected in the figures he had described, and had formed drops at the bottom of each downstroke.
"That is not all. Whether your father builds greatly on this or not I cannot say; but Fox has dangled the prospect before him, whilst he snatched at something for himself--even at Bessie, the heiress of Hall, now that you are thrown out into the wet and cold."
Anthony sighed involuntarily. Yes, he was out, indeed, in the wet and cold at Willsworthy--not metaphorically only, but actually as well.
"Now," continued Julian, "you shall hear the whole plan as worked out. Fox has gone in to-day to meet Bessie and your father at your Aunt Magdalen's house, and your aunt has been inveigled into uniting her persuasion to the commands of your father to induce Bessie to jump down the Fox's throat."
"It cannot be," said Anthony. "Bess will never--and she does not care for Fox."
"She may not have the power to resist. Girls have not the daring and independence of you men. When Fox has got his way, then he intends to change his name, and live at Hall with your father, who will re-settle the property on him and his heirs, that so there may still be an Anthony Cleverdon of Hall."