'"My good child, if she waits till then, she will never be set free. The fine they ask is shamefully extravagant for all the children, but for those three girls it is even more than that. It is an enormous ransom—a sum that is quite out of our power to pay."
'"But," I persisted, in astonishment, "I thought Sir Bernard was so very rich!"
'"Why should you think so?" demanded Lady Dalrymple, with a slight sharpness in her tone.
'"Oh, because—— It was only something that Agnes heard Father Freeling say at Newcourt."
'"Ah, well!"—and poor Lady Dalrymple sighed heavily—"perhaps Father Freeling was right once upon a time; but those days are over now. Sir Bernard has been very unfortunate; and as to this sum of money, Mr. Sidney may be able to pay it for his daughter, and, rich as he is, it will take half his fortune, but we cannot do it. Were we even to ruin ourselves and our other children, we could not do it; and my poor Frances must be saved some other way, unless she is to stay and die in that den of thieves."
'"She shall be saved!" I said to myself resolutely, and then stood pondering in silence on what the next step should be. "Madam," said I, a new idea striking me, "why should not I pay the ransom? If she is my wife, I have a right to do it more than any one else. Oh, surely Sir Harry could not have any objection! And if enough could not be had without, we might sell some of the land."
'"Nay, that is out of the question," she said, interrupting me with a melancholy smile. "My dear boy, I trust that you will help me to save her, but it cannot be done in that way. My husband has appealed to Sir Harry already, but he can do nothing. He cannot touch your money; and if he could, he would have no right to do so. You are under age. We have no right to ruin you even for her sake. No; my only hope now is to petition the Queen."
'"Then I pray you, madam, let me take you to the Queen. You would know what to say so much better than I should."
'But Lady Dalrymple shook her head very decidedly at this proposition. "No, Algernon, believe me, you would have a much better chance of success than I should. So many parents have pleaded in vain already. But she is your wife, and—so young as you both are—— Yes, indeed, I am sure it is far better that you should go."
'"Then I will go at once," I exclaimed impetuously, and should have acted on my words if Lady Dalrymple bad not caught my arm.