‘It was mother,’ an answer which made her young mistresses again sigh over the remembrance of Rachel’s disregarded advice. Her fate was left for consideration and consultation with Mr. Devereux, for Mr. Mohun, seeing himself to blame for having allowed her to be placed in a situation of so much trial, and thinking that there was much that was good about her, did not like to send her to her home, where she was likely to learn nothing but what was bad. CHAPTER XXIV LOVE’S LABOUR LOST ‘And well, with ready hand and heart, Each task of toilsome duty taking, Did one dear inmate take her part, The last asleep, the earliest waking.’ IN the course of the afternoon Lord Rotherwood and Florence called, to see Eleanor, inquire after Ada, and make the final arrangements for going to a morning concert at Raynham the next day. Lady Rotherwood was afraid of the fatigue, and Florence therefore wished to accompany her cousins, who, as Eleanor meant to stay at home, were to be under Mrs. Weston’s protection. Lady Florence and her brother, therefore, agreed to ride home by Broomhill, and mention the plan to Mrs. Weston, and took their leave, appointing Adam’s shop as the place of rendezvous. Next morning Emily, Lilias, and Jane happened to be together in the drawing-room, when Mr. Mohun and Claude came in, the former saying to Lily, ‘Here is the mason’s account for the gravestone which you wished to have put up to Agnes Eden; it comes to two pounds. You undertook half the expense, and as Claude is going to Raynham, he will pay for it if you will give him your sovereign.’ ‘I will,’ said Lily, ‘but first I must ask Emily to pay me for the London commissions.’ Emily repented not having had a private conference with Lily. ‘So you have not settled your accounts,’ said Mr. Mohun. ‘I hope Lily has not ruined you, Emily.’ ‘I thought her a mirror of prudence,’ said Claude. ‘Well, Emily, is the sovereign forthcoming? I am going directly, for Frank has something to do at Raynham, and William is going to try his gray in the phaeton.’ ‘I am afraid you will think me very silly,’ said Emily, after some deliberation, ‘but I hope Lily will not be very angry when I confess that seven shillings is the sum total of my property.’ ‘Oh, Emily,’ cried Lily, in dismay, ‘what has become of your five pounds?’ ‘I gave them as a subscription for a clergyman’s widow in distress,’ said Emily; ‘it was the impulse of a moment, I could not help it, and, dear Lily, I hope it will not inconvenience you.’ ‘If papa will be kind enough to wait for this pound till Michaelmas,’ said Lily. ‘I would wait willingly,’ said Mr. Mohun, ‘but I will not see you cheated. How much does she owe you?’ ‘The commissions came to six pounds three,’ said Lily, looking down. ‘But, Lily,’ said Jane, ‘you forget the old debt.’ ‘Never mind,’ whispered Lily; but Mr. Mohun asked what Jane had said, and Claude repeated her speech, upon which he inquired, ‘What old debt?’