"The world, my dear Una, is censorious," he said, wisely, "and as the Squire has only been dead two months it will be as well to wait a little longer."
"I suppose so," replied Una with a sigh, "although I do not see it would mean any disrespect to his memory if we got married at once."
"No doubt, no doubt--still, _medio tutissimus ibis_, and I think it will be wiser for you both to put off the marriage for at least three months."
"Three months," said Reginald, with a groan, "that's as bad as three years, but I suppose we must--I will stay at Garsworth in the meantime."
"Of course, my dear boy, of course," answered the vicar, crossing his legs and placing his thumbs and forefingers together, "you can take up your old life again."
"Ah, never! never again," said the young man, shaking his head sadly, "the old life is dead and done with. I have eaten of the tree of knowledge, and the fruit is bitter."
"My dear Reginald," said Una, crossing over to him and putting her kind arms round his neck, "you must not be so despondent--it is not your fault."
"The sins of the father are visited on the children," he replied gloomily, "if it had been anything else I would not have minded--but to be what I am--a nobody--entitled to bear no name--it is bitter, very bitter indeed. I've no doubt I should be above such petty pride, still I am but mortal, and disgrace is hard to bear."
"If it is disgrace I will bear it with you," whispered Una, smoothing his hair, "we will be married and go away for a time; you will soon forget the past when we go abroad."
"With your help I hope to," he said, looking affectionately into her clear eyes shining down on him with ineffable love in their azure depths.
"I think," remarked the vicar, touched by the deep sorrow of the young man, "that taking all things into consideration it would be wiser to do as you wish."
"And marry," assented the vicar, nodding good-naturedly; "what says Horace? '_carpe diem quam minimum credula postero_.' So taking that advice it will be best for you both to be married quietly next week and go abroad for a time:--when you return Reginald will doubtless find his position easier."
"I hope so," said Blake mournfully, as they arose to go, "but I'm afraid it's hopeless--this discovery has killed all the pleasures of life--my youth is dead."