"I am not so sure of that. It seems to me rather a dangerous
responsibility to take her away from her own relations, unless there
were any with equal claims."
"They are her only relations, and her husband had none. Still to be
under the constant yoke of an overpowering woman with unfixed opinions
seems to be an unmitigated evil for her and her boys; and no one's
feelings need be hurt by her fixing herself near some public school for
her sons' education. However, she is settled for this year, and at the
end we may decide."
With which words he again applied himself to Ermine's correspondence,
and presently completed the letter, offering to direct the envelope,
which she refused, as having one already directed by the author.
He rather mischievously begged to see it that he might judge of the
character of the writing, but this she resisted.
However, in four days' time there was a very comical twinkle in his
eye, as he informed her that the new number of the "Traveller" was in no
favour at the Homestead, "there was such a want of original thought in
it." Ermine felt her imprudence in having risked the betrayal, but all
she did was to look at him with her full, steady eyes, and a little
twist in each corner of her mouth, as she said, "Indeed! Then we had
better enliven it with the recollections of a military secretary," and
he was both convinced of what he guessed, and also that she did not
think it right to tell him; "But," he said, "there is something in that
girl, I perceive, Ermine; she does think for herself, and if she were
not so dreadfully earnest that she can't smile, she would be the best
company of any of the party."
"I am so glad you think so! I shall be delighted if you will really talk
to her, and help her to argue out some of her crudities. Indeed she is
worth it. But I suppose you will hardly stay here long enough to do her
any good."
"What, are you going to order me away?"
"I thought your brother wanted you at home."
"It is all very well to talk of an ancestral home, but when it consists
of a tall, slim house, with blank walls and pepper-box turrets, set
down on a bleak hill side, and every one gone that made it once a happy
place, it is not attractive. Moreover, my only use there would be to
be kept as a tame heir, the person whose interference would be most
resented, and I don't recognise that duty."
"You are a gentleman at large, with no obvious duty," said Ermine,
meditatively.
"What, none?" bending his head, and looking earnestly at her.