Ravenshoe. By Henry Kingsley.

LORD SALTIRE AND FATHER MACKWORTH. 323
have died without leaving such a secret to his successor; a secret
which would make the owner of it - that is, the priest - so
completely the master'f Ravenshoe and all in it. I confessed
that man on his death-bed, my lord," said Mackworth looking
quietly at Lord Saltire, with a smile, "and I can only tell you,
if you can bring yourself to believe -a priest, that there was not
one word said about his marriage."
" No? " said Lord Saltire, pensively looking out of the window.
"And yet Lady Ascot seems so positive."
" I sincerely hope," said Mackworth, " that she may be wrong.
It would be a sad thing for me. I am comfortable and happy
at Ravenshoe. Poor dear Cuthbert has secured my position
there during my lifetime. The present Mr. Ravenshoe is not so
tractable as his brother, but I can get on well enough with him.
But, in case of this story being true, and Mr. Charles Horton
coming back, my position would be untenable, and Ravenshoe
would be in Protestant hands for the first time in history. I
should lose my home, and the Church would lose one of its best
houses in the west. The best, in fact. I had sooner be at
Ravenshoe than at Segur. I am very much pleased at your
lordship's having sought this conference. It shows you have
some trust in me, to consult me upon a matter in which my own
interests are all on one side."
Lord Saltire bowed. "There is another way to look at the
matter, too, my dear sir. If we prove our case, which is possible,
and in case of our poor dear Charles dying or getting killed,
which is probable, why then William comes in for the estate again.
Suppose, now, such a possibility as his dying without heirs; why,
then, Miss Ravenshoe is the greatest heiress in the west of England. Have you any idea where Miss Ravenshoe is? "
Both Lord Saltire and Lord Hainault turned on him as the
former said this. For an instant Mackworth looked inquiringly
from one to the other, with his lips slightly parted, and said,
" Miss Ravenshoe? " Then he gave a half-smile of intelligence,
and said, " Ah! yes; I was puzzled for a moment. Yes, in that
case poor Ellen would be Miss Ravenshoe. Yes, and the estate
would remain in Catholic hands. What a prospect for the
Church! A penitent heiress! The management of 12,0001. a
year! Forgive my being carried away for a moment. You
know I am an enthusiastic Churchman. I have been bound,
body and soul, to the Church from a child, and such a prospect,
even in such remote perspective, has dazzled me. But I am
afraid I shall see rather a large family of Ravenshoes between
me and such a consummation. William is going to marry."
"Then you do not know where poor Ellen is?" said Lord
Saltire.