"By the way," Mr Ffolliot said in quite a new tone, "you were saying something the other day about your mother's very kind offer to have Mary for some weeks after the May drawing-room. I think it would be a good thing. You don't want the fag and expense of going up to town so soon after you've come home. Let her stay with her grandmother for a bit and go out--see that she has proper clothes--they will enjoy having the child, and she will see something of the world. Let her have her fling--don't hurry her." "Why, Hilary, what a _volte-face_! When I spoke to you about it before I was ill you said it was out of the question . . ." "My dear," said Mr Ffolliot testily, "only stupid people think that they must never change their minds. I have decided that it will be good for Mary to leave Redmarley for a bit. You must remember that I have been carefully observing her for the last few weeks. She will grow narrow and provincial if she never meets anyone except the Garsetshire people. Surely you must see that?" "May I tell Mary? It's such fun when you're young to look forward to things." "Certainly tell Mary, and let her go as soon as her grandmother will have her. She'd better get what clothes she wants in town." "She can go up with Grantly when he goes back to the Shop. It _is_ nice of you, Larrie." "I suppose she must stay for this tiresome dinner? Why not let her go beforehand? It's always very easy to get an odd girl." "That wouldn't do," Mrs Ffolliot said decidedly, "the child would be disappointed--besides I want her." Mr Ffolliot sighed. "As you will, my dear," he said meekly, "but she'd better go directly it is over." CHAPTER XXII THE DREAM GOES ON "Aunt Susan, will you give me a bed on Thursday night?" Eloquent, who was spending the Easter recess at Marlehouse, had bicycled out to tea with Miss Gallup. "You know as I'm always pleased to give you a bed any time. What do you want it then for? Are you coming to stop a bit?" "Because," Eloquent took a deep breath and watched his aunt closely, "I'm dining at the Manor that night." "Then," said Miss Gallup sharply, "you don't have a bed here." "Why ever not?" and in his astonishment Eloquent dropped into the Garsetshire idiom he was usually so careful to avoid. "Because," Miss Gallup was flushed and tremulous, "no one shall ever say I was as a drag on you." "But, Aunt Susan, no one could say it, and if they did, what would it matter? and what in the world has that to do with giving me a bed?"