“Nonsense, dear!” said Lady Augusta, with a pleased smile. “He is good to me on your account. And you must not say anything against Harry. Harry is always a dear boy; but he has a number of friends, and he knows I don’t expect him to give up his own pleasure. Yes; Edgar Arden is very nice; I don’t deny I am getting quite fond of him. Did he--had you any particular conversation with him, my darling, to-night?” “No, mamma,” said Gussy, with her eyes cast down, and a rising colour on her cheeks. “Or perhaps he is coming to-morrow? Did he say anything about coming to-morrow?” said Lady Augusta, with a little anxiety in her tone. “He asked me if he might, but I said no. I thought we would be in such confusion--everything packing up, and all our shopping to do, and so much bother--and then probably when he came nobody at home. And you know, mamma, we shall meet again so soon--next week,” said Gussy, apologetically. As she spoke she began to feel that perhaps that little bit of maidenly reluctance had been a mistake; and Lady Augusta shook her head. “My dear, I don’t think putting off is ever good,” she said. “When you have lived as long as I have you will know upon what nothings the greatest changes may turn. If he had come to-morrow, one needed no ghost to tell us what would have happened--but next week is a different thing, and the country is a different thing from town. There are seven miles between Arden and Thorne--there is Clare at the other end to hold him back--there are a thousand things; whereas, the present moment, you know--there is nothing like the present moment in all such affairs.” “If he cared so little for me,” cried Gussy, indignant, “as to be kept back by seven miles--or even by Clare----” “My dear, that is not the question,” said her mother. “He has been with us here every day, but he can’t ride over to Thorne every day. He will find business waiting for him, and his visitors will begin to come, and Clare--without meaning any harm--I am sure Clare would never put herself in opposition to you; she is a great deal too proud for that--but without meaning it she will make engagements for him, she will expect him to attend to her a little--and it is quite natural she should. I am very sorry you did not let him come. For my own part I should have liked to see him again. I am growing quite fond of him, Gussy. He is the sort of young man whom one can put such confidence in. I should have liked to ask his advice about Phil at Harrow. I should have liked--but of course it cannot be helped now. I think I will ask them both to come and spend a week with us at Thorne.” “Mamma!” cried Gussy, with a violent blush. “Oh, don’t please; fancy inviting a man--any man--for the express purpose---- Oh, please, for my sake, don’t do such a thing as that!”