"I have not been ill, Mrs. Hammond," replied Sir Laurence gravely; "but I have had a good deal of trouble lately, and that does not improve one's looks. But," he went on, "you wished to see me; may I inquire why? I am leaving town shortly; and--" He paused; his natural courtesy arrested him. He could not tell Mrs. Hammond so plainly that he was anxious to get away from her as soon as possible. She saw it though, and she reddened with sudden anger, which in an instant she brought under control. "You are amazingly business-like, Sir Laurence! The influence of your late onerous experiences in the character of _Gentilhomme Campaynard_, no doubt. By the way, how do you like it all?" "All? I hardly catch your meaning. Since my father's death I have been, as you suppose, very much occupied, and I cannot say I like the details of a transfer of property and responsibility much." "Ah, but the property itself, I meant,--the title and the fortune, the 'county-magnate' business, and the ward;--above all, the ward." She spoke in a playful tone; but she watched him closely, and Sir Laurence saw it. "She had heard something about Helen, and she is on a false scent," he thought. "Perhaps it is just as well to let her deceive herself." So he replied, still gravely, still unwarmed by her manner, which was half caressing and half contemptuous: "They are all good things in their way, Mrs. Hammond; and if their way be not yet mine, mine will be theirs some day, I hope." "Ah, then, it's true!" she exclaimed. "You are really going to marry and settle; you are going to assume the semi-sporting, semi-bucolic, but entirely domestic character, which is so very charming, and which will suit you so perfectly; and henceforth the all-conquering Colonel will be sought for in vain under so admirable a travesty!" Still he was grave and immovable. Her _persiflage_ had no more power to charm, her ridicule to annoy, than her beauty had power to please him. It was all silly chatter; and he wondered at himself as he remembered the time when he preferred the nonsense, occasionally adulterated by slang and invariably spiced with spite, which she had talked then and always, to any words of wit or wisdom. She still watched him, under cover of her light manner, narrowly. "You know as well as I do what is the ordinary amount of truth in public rumour, Mrs. Hammond. But you must excuse me for again reminding you that I am here at your request, and that you summoned me hither with some purpose. It was not to talk of _my_ affairs and prospects, I presume."