"I mean that my aunt couldn't do more than suggest," May answered, slightly throwing back her head. "I have only to let her know how I think about anything." "You are sure of that?" asked the other, sweetly. "Oh, quite!" May's smile was ineffable. The woman of the world, the humourist and cynic, saw it with admiration. "Ah, that puts my mind at ease!" murmured Mrs. Toplady. "To tell the truth, I have been worrying a little. Sometimes elderly people are so very tenacious of their ideas. Of course Lady Ogram has nothing but your good at heart." "Of course!" exclaimed the girl. "Shall I confess to you that I almost fancied _this_ might be the explanation of Miss Bride's engagement?" "Miss Bride--? How?" "I only tell you for your amusement. It occurred to me that, having set her heart on a scheme which had reference to Lord Dymchurch, your aunt was perhaps a little uneasy with respect to a much more brilliant and conspicuous man. Had that been so--it's all the merest supposition--she might have desired to see the brilliant and dangerous man made harmless--put out of the way." A gleam of sudden perception illumined the girl's face. For a moment wonder seemed tending to mirth; but it took another turn, and became naive displeasure. "You think so?" broke from her, impetuously. "You really think that's why she wanted them to be engaged?" "It's only what I had fancied, my dear--" "But I shouldn't wonder if you were right! Indeed, I shouldn't! Now that you put it in that way--. I remember that my aunt didn't care for me to see much of Mr. Lashmar. It amused me, because, to tell you the truth, Mrs. Toplady, I should never have thought of Mr. Lashmar as anything but a friend. I feel quite sure I shouldn't." "I quite understand _that_," replied the listener, the corners of her lips very eloquent. "Such a thing had never entered my mind," pursued May, volubly and with emphasis. "Never!" "It may have entered someone else's mind, though," interposed Mrs. Toplady, again maturely arch. "Oh, do you think so!" exclaimed the girl, with manifest pleasure. "I'm sure I hope not. But, Mrs. Toplady, how could my aunt oblige such a man as Mr. Lashmar to engage himself against his will?" "You must remember, May, that, for the moment at all events, Mr. Lashmar's prospects seem to depend a good deal on Lady Ogram's good will. She has a great deal of local influence. And then--by the bye, is Mr. Lashmar quite easy in his circumstances?" "I really don't know," May answered, with an anxious fold in her forehead "Surely he, too, isn't quite poor?" "I hardly think he is wealthy. Isn't it just possible that something may depend upon the marriage--?" Mrs. Toplady's voice died away in a considerate vagueness. But May was not at all disposed to leave the matter nebulous. "If he is really poor," she said, in a clear-cut tone, "it's quite natural that he should want to marry someone who can help him. But why didn't he choose someone really suitable?"