If this matter of Miss Silvester ends badly--and I own it begins to look as if it would--I should hurry my niece's marriage, Sir, and see if _that_ wouldn't console her." Sir Patrick started under the gentle discipline of the hair-brush in Duncan's hand.
"That's very sensibly put," said the old gentleman.

"Duncan! you are, what I call, a clear-minded man.

Well worth thinking of, old Truepenny! If the worst comes to the worst, well worth thinking of!" It was not the first time that Duncan's steady good sense had struck light, under the form of a new thought, in his master's mind.

But never yet had he wrought such mischief as the mischief which he had innocently done now.

He had sent Sir Patrick to bed with the fatal idea of hastening the marriage of Arnold and Blanche.
The situation of affairs at Windygates--now that Anne had apparently obliterated all trace of herself--was becoming serious.