'Ursula,' he said, and took both her hands, 'I cannot have you do this for me.'
'Can't you, Mark? You can't prevent it, you see. And don't you know it is the beginning of all my happiness?'
'But indeed, I cannot feel it right. It is a strained sense of justice. Come and tell her so, Nannie.'
'What?' said Annaple coming forward.
They both paused a moment, then Nuttie said, 'Only that the estate ought to go in the male line.'
'Oh, is that all?' said Annaple, 'I was afraid Mr. Egremont had a fit!'
'Ah! Don't you see what it means,' said Mark. 'They want it to be as if there were an entail—to begin treating me as an eldest son at once. It is Ursula's doing, putting herself out of the succession.'
'I always hated being an heiress,' said Nuttie.
'It would be more dreadful than ever now. Annaple, do be sensible! Don't you see it is the only right thing to do?'
'Billy!' was the one word Annaple said.