Lord Frogmore had divined the course that would be taken by the ladies, and as soon as he escaped he hurried off in the opposite direction, from which, when Mary reached the door, he was visible tranquilly sauntering towards the house. He called to Mary as soon as he saw her at the door. “Miss Hill! I have been trying in vain to find my way to Marsham Ponds. Have you time to show me how to go?” Mary begged him to wait a moment and returned to reassure Letitia. “Whoever it was it was not Lord Frogmore. He is out in the West shrubbery trying to find the way to Marsham, and he wants me to show him. Whoever it was it could not be he.” Letitia drew a long breath of relief. “Well,” she said, “no one else matters much; but for goodness sake never let us begin to talk again without seeing if there’s anybody there.” “Do you want me,” said Mary, “or can I go? I will tell Felicie to come down and give you your tea.” “Oh, you can go--it’s better there should be someone to amuse Frogmore: but don’t you think you’ll get anything out of him, for every penny he has should come to the children. Now remember what I say.” “I want none of his pennies,” said Mary indignantly--but it was with a sense of relief that she got her hat and went out to Lord Frogmore, who was more kind and understanding than any other visitor at Greenpark had ever been. They had all taken her undisguisedly for a dependent, all treated her in the easy and unguarded way which unfortunately is the common way of treating a governess or companion, with that manner of contempt--or perhaps it would be most kind to say indifference--which an old maid who is poor and modest is apt to meet with. Her remarks were not noted--her opinions elicited no response; if she was silent, as she most frequently was, nobody cared. But Lord Frogmore always heard her when she said anything, and asked her what she thought of this thing and that. It pleased poor Mary to be considered like other people, on the same level as the rest--whom inevitably in her own mind she had begun to regard with an involuntary responsive scorn as stupid and without feeling. She thought better of her neighbors because she herself was placed in her right position by the sense, the appreciation, or--as she called it--the kindness of old Lord Frogmore.