"You forget he has not been dead three weeks, and Alice Arden is not likely to see any one but very intimate friends for a long time; and--and I daresay you have heard that Sir Richard Arden and I are not on very pleasant terms." "'Oh! Pity such difference should be----.'" "Thanks, and Tweedledum and Tweedledee are not likely to make it up. I'm afraid people aren't always reasonable, you know, and expect, often, things that are not quite fair." "He ought to marry some one with money, and give up play." "What! give up play, and commence husband? I'm afraid he'd think that a rather dull life." "Well, I'm sure I'm no judge of that, although I give an opinion. Whatever he may be, you have a very staunch friend in Lady May." "I'm glad of that; she's always so kind." And he looked rather oddly at the young lady. Perhaps she seemed conscious of a knowledge more than she had yet divulged. This young lady was, I need not tell you, a little coarse. She had, when she liked, the frankness that can come pretty boldly to the point; but I think she could be sly enough when she pleased; and was she just a little mischievous? "Lady May has been talking to me a great deal about Alice Arden. She has been to see her very often since that poor old man died, and she says--she says, Mr. Longcluse--will you be upon honour not to repeat this?" "Certainly, upon my honour." "Well, she says----" Miss Maubray gets up quickly, and settles some flowers over the chimney-piece. "She says that there is a coolness in that quarter also." "I don't quite see," says Mr. Longcluse. "Well, I must tell you she has taken me into council, and told me a great deal; and she spoke to Alice, and wrote to her. Did she say she would show you the answer? I have got it; she left it with me, and asked me--she's so good-natured--to use my influence--she said _my_ influence! She ought to know I've _no_ influence." Longcluse felt very oddly indeed during this speech; he had still presence of mind not to add anything to the knowledge the young lady might actually possess. "You have not said a great deal, you know; but Lady May certainly did promise to show me an answer which she expected to a note she wrote about three weeks ago, or less, to Miss Arden." "I really don't know of what use I can be in the matter. I have no excuse for speaking to Alice on the subject of her note--none in the world. I think I may as well let you see it; but you will promise--you _have_ promised--not to tell any one?" "I have--I do--I promise. Lady May herself said she would show me that letter." "Well, I can't, I suppose, be very wrong. It is only a note: it does not say much, but quite enough, I'm afraid, to make it useless, and almost impertinent, for me, or any one else, to say a word more on the subject to Alice Arden."