“I will tell you what it is without more ado,” Mr. Rossmore said. “I don’t know the people myself, but my brother, who has had to do with the lady in the way of business, has written to me about it. I may be making a mistake,” he repeated. “Perhaps you have no such intentions for your children. Miss Hetty perhaps----. But I must tell you what it is. Mrs. Asquith”--he faced towards Mary, for it was of her that he was afraid--“there is a young lady wanted to be with a child in the country--oh, not as a governess: dear me, no, not the least in the world as a governess. This is what it is. There is a little girl in the country, a great heiress, I believe, a little delicate--not queer--no, I don’t think she is at all queer. She has a governess with her, an excellent person, very accomplished, a good musician, and speaking all the languages. What they want is a young lady a little older, but not too old to be a companion to the child, who would share all her lessons, and get every advantage, and a salary besides of fifty pounds a year. It is quite an unusual offer, quite a prize for any one who could accept it. I hope, Mrs. Asquith, that you will not think I am taking too much upon me. I thought if you ever contemplated--if, in short, you had thought of--of school or finishing lessons or anything of that sort----” “Why should you apologise? You are making us the kindest offer. Mary, surely you must feel with me that Mr. Rossmore----” “I am sure you are very kind,” cried Mary, “oh, very kind; nothing could be more kind.” There was a little confusion about her, as if she had received a blow: and she was flushed and uneasy. It was something of a shock. To think of Hetty going--to a situation: going--to be somebody’s companion! It gave Mary a little sick shock at her heart. But she was a sensible woman, and she had not come thus far on the path of life without learning that pride was a thing to be put at once under the foot of the mother of a family. She regained after a moment entire possession of herself. “It is a little startling to think of Hetty, such a child as she is, going away, earning money,” she said, with a quiver of a smile. “It seems so strange, for a girl too. And to lose her out of the house will be something, something----. But, Mr. Rossmore, you are very, very kind. I take it as the greatest kindness. It sounds as if it might be--the very thing for Hetty. Harry, don’t you think----” What with the sudden shock and all the complications of feeling involved, Mrs. Asquith had hard ado not to cry. She laughed a little instead, and looked towards her husband. It was the first time it had ever been suggested to her that her children were not to be always at her side. Mr. Asquith divined a good deal, but not all, that was in her mind.