Ida said nothing, but leant forward and stirred the fire, which may

have caused the colour which glowed for a moment or two on her face.

"I am sure I don't know why the young man should have rushed off to the

other end of the world: or why he doesn't rush back again and marry the

lady of his heart, who has enough money for both of them, and would

make an extremely handsome and stately countess. By the way, have you

ever seen the present Lord Highcliffe, my dear?" "Yes, I have seen

him," Ida replied in the tone which closes a subject of conversation.

"Shall I give you some more tea? No? Would you like to see how the

workmen are getting on? I think they are working very quickly. They

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will want this part of the house presently, and I have an idea of going

away for a time; perhaps abroad," she added, though she had put the

idea away from her until this moment, and it was only Lady Bannerdale's

talk of Maude Falconer which started it again in her mind.

Lady Bannerdale, looked alarmed.

"Oh, don't do that, my dear!" she said. "If you are obliged to turn out

of the house, why not come to us? It would be so kind and sweet of

you."

Ida sighed a little wearily.

"Oh, I don't suppose they will insist upon ejecting me," she said. "I

think I can persuade them to leave me two or three rooms."

Lady Bannerdale went home and dropped her bomb-shell in the presence of

Lord Bannerdale and Edwin.

"Ida rather thinks of going abroad," she said in a casual way at the

dinner table.

Lord Edwin was raising his wine glass to his lips, but arrested it

half-way and set it down again; and his handsome face grew long and

grave.

"Oh! We shall miss her," remarked Lord Bannerdale, lamely, and avoiding

looking in his son's direction.

Not another word was said; but the next day Lord Edwin came into Lady

Bannerdale's room with that affectation of ease and indifference which

never yet deceived a mother.

"I'm going to call on Miss Heron, mother," he said. "Any message?"

Lady Bannerdale looked at him, her brow wrinkled with motherly anxiety.

There was nothing in the world she desired more than his happiness; and

she knew that the marriage with Ida would be in every way desirable:

the girl was one in a thousand, the Bannerdale estates almost joined

Herondale; both she and her husband were fond of Ida, who, they knew,

would prove a worthy successor to the present mistress of the Grange;

but just because it seemed so desirable and Lord Edwin's heart was so

passionately set upon it, the mother was anxious. She saw that he was

dressed with extreme care, and that his face was unusually grave.




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