“But how can I?” cried Penelope, following him as he took up his _topi_ and went towards the stairs. “How can I tell you? I only know what you ought to do; surely you can devise a way of doing it. I wouldn’t have wasted my trouble on most women, but it seemed to me that the woman Keeling cared for ought to have more sense than the general run, and you’ve taken it better than I expected. Put all that nonsense about warnings out of your head, and leave the dead alone and think of the living. That’s all I have to say,” and he was gone. It seemed as if Penelope was to have no reason for refusing to follow Dr Tarleton’s advice, for Lady Haigh found an opportunity of unfolding her plan to Major Keeling that very evening. He had invited her to dismount and walk up and down with him while listening to the band, and she gathered her long habit over her arm and seized her chance joyfully. “You will think I am always asking for favours, Major Keeling, but I want this one very much. Will you send my husband to inspect the south-western district instead of Captain Porter?” “But Porter has his orders, and is making preparations,” he said, looking at her in astonishment. “Have you quarrelled with Haigh, that you are so anxious to banish him?” “Quarrelled? banish him? Oh, I see what you mean. How absurd! Of course Miss Ross and I are going too.” “Are you, indeed? And may I ask whether the idea is Haigh’s or yours?” “Oh, mine. He doesn’t know anything about it.” “So I imagined.” He was looking at her rather doubtfully. “And have you any particular reason for wishing to go?” “I think it will do Miss Ross good--to take her away from old associations, and people that she knows, I means.” “And from me especially?” he asked bitterly. Lady Haigh answered him with unexpected frankness. “Exactly--from you especially,” she said. “I really believe she will appreciate you better at a distance--no, not quite that. I want her to miss you. At present it is a kind of religious duty to Colin’s memory not to have anything to do with you; but when you are not there I think she will see that she has been turning her back on what ought to be her greatest blessing and comfort.” Major Keeling looked as if he could have blushed. “Very well,” he said meekly. “If you can bring Haigh round to it, you shall go.” “And shall I put it right with Captain Porter?” asked Lady Haigh, with an easy assurance born of success. “I know he’ll be quite willing to stay here if I tell him it’s for Pen’s sake,” she added to herself.