“Oh, you mustn’t think that; he really likes you very much, but you are rather incomprehensible to him. He would be so distressed if he thought that you stayed away on that account.” Secretly Margaret thought, “Rather a dangerous symptom, that she should be so sensitive to his indifference.” “Granville is not quite an ordinary person, you know,” added his sister, speaking very fast, in order to cover Catherine’s confusion. “It takes a long time for him to get to like people, but when he has once formed a friendship no one could be more loyal. I envy Lady Blanche.” “Lady Blanche?” asked Catherine. “Who is she?” “Oh, she is Lord Mayne’s sister. Long ago, before our father died, Granville and Maurice—Lord Mayne, you know—were at Oxford together. They were great chums, and Granville used to spend most of his vacations at Grimshaw. He and Lady Blanche were certainly very good friends, and I think there might have been an engagement had not my father died suddenly, leaving his affairs in an inextricable muddle. He was overwhelmed with debt; and instead of inheriting a large fortune, as we had imagined would be the case, Granville and I found ourselves with only a comparatively small capital. The interest on that is still going to pay off the debts. Of course, Granville couldn’t speak then, and it was fortunate for him that Lord Mayne entered Parliament at that time, and insisted on his becoming his secretary. Between ourselves it was quite equally fortunate for Lord Mayne, because Granville is ten times as clever as he is; and when people praise his speeches, and talk of him as the ‘most brilliant of our younger politicians,’ I hug myself and think that he is inspired by my brother.” “But how sad!” cried Catherine sympathetically. “And did Lady Blanche care for him all the time?” “That I can’t tell, but though all this is seven years ago, she is still unmarried, and if Granville ever recovered any of our fortune I am sure he would ask her. It would be a splendid thing for him, for Blanche has heaps of money of her own. Think—he could go into Parliament and make quite as great a figure as Lord Mayne.” “That would be splendid,” cried the girl enthusiastically, “but if she loves him, surely she would be glad to marry him without the money.” “No doubt; but he can’t ask her, at least, not yet. But sometimes I hope that by some lucky chance they may come to an understanding, and the difficulty may be solved. Come, we must say ‘Good night’ now, if we are to start early to-morrow.”