His roof had sheltered her many years, and he had found out too late that he loved her, so far as his nature could love at that time.
* * * * * Percy Fitzroy had an elder sister.

He appealed to her against Julia Clifford.

She cross-questioned him, and told him he was very foolish to despair.

She would hardly have slapped him if she was quite resolved to part forever.
"Let me have a hand in reconciling you," said she.
"You shall have b-b-both hands in it, if you like," said he; "for I am at my w-w-wit's end." So these two conspired.

Miss Fitzroy was invited to Percy's house, and played the mistress.