“No, I don’t think so. I am rather enjoying myself, I think. It always does one good,” he said, getting up slowly, “to come and have it out with you.” Lady Markham said “Dear boy!” once more, and gave him her hand, which he kissed; and then his audience was over. He went away; and she turned round to her writing-table to the inevitable correspondence. There was a little cloud upon her forehead so long as she was alone; but when another knock came at the door, it cleared by magic as she said “Come in.” This time it was Sir Thomas who appeared. He was a tall man, with grey hair, and had the air of being very carefully brushed and dressed. He came in, and seated himself where Claude had been, but pushed back the chair from the fire. “Don’t you think,” he said, “that you keep your room a little too warm?” “Claude complained that it was cold. It is difficult to please everybody.” “Oh, Claude. I have come to speak to you, dear Lady Markham, on a very different subject. I was talking to Frances last night.” “So I perceived. And what do you think of my little girl?” “You know,” he said, with some solemnity, “the hopes I have always entertained that some time or other our dear Waring might be brought among us once more.” “I have always told you,” said Lady Markham, “that no difficulties should be raised by me.” “You were always everything that is good and kind,” said Sir Thomas. “I was talking to his dear little daughter last night. She reminds me very much of Waring, Lady Markham.” “That is odd; for everybody tells me--and indeed I can see it myself--that she is like me.” “She is very like you; still, she reminds me of her father more than I can say. I do think we have in her the instrument--the very instrument that is wanted. If he is ever to be brought back again----” “Which I doubt,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t let us doubt. With perseverance, everything is to be hoped; and here we have in our very hands what I have always looked for--some one devoted to him and very fond of you.” “Is she very fond of me?” said Lady Markham. Her face softened--a little moisture crept into her eyes. “Ah, Sir Thomas, I wonder if that is true. She was very much moved by the idea of her mother--a relation she had never known. She expected I don’t know what, but more, I am sure, than she has found in me. Oh, don’t say anything. I am scarcely surprised; I am not at all displeased. To come with your heart full of an ideal, and to find an ordinary woman--a woman in Society!” The moisture enlarged in Lady Markham’s eyes--not tears, but yet a liquid mist that gave them pathos. She shook her head, looking at him with a smile. “We need not argue the question,” said Sir Thomas, “for I know she is very fond of you. You should have heard her stop me when she thought I was going to criticise you. Of course, had she known me better she would have known how impossible that was.”