"His money troubles may have oppressed him even then. The loss of Arden Court might have been a foreseen calamity." "Yes, it may have been so. But there is no use in thinking of that. Even if papa were rich enough to buy it, Mr. Granger would never sell the Court." "Sell it!" repeated Lady Laura, meditatively; "well, perhaps not. One could hardly expect him to do that--a place for which he has done so much. But one never knows what may happen; I have really seen such wonderful changes come to pass among friends and acquaintances of mine, that scarcely anything would astonish me--no, Clary, not if I were to see you mistress of Arden Court." And then Lady Laura kissed her protegee once more with effusion, and anon dipped her brush in the carmine, and went on with the manipulation of a florid initial in her Missal--a fat gothic M, interlaced with ivy-leaves and holly. "You haven't asked me who the people are that I am expecting this afternoon," she said presently, with a careless air. "My dear Lady Laura, if you were to tell me their names, I don't suppose I should be any wiser than I am now. I know so few people." "But you do know these--or at least you know all about them. My arrivals to-day are Mr. and Miss Granger." Clarissa gave a faint sigh, and bent a little lower over her work. "Well, child, are you not surprised? have you nothing to say?" cried Lady Laura, rather impatiently. "I--I daresay they are very nice people," Clarissa answered, nervously. "But the truth is--I know you must despise me for such folly--I cannot help associating them with our loss, and I have a kind of involuntary dislike of them. I have never so much as seen them, you know--not even at church; for they go to the gothic chapel which Mr. Granger has built in his model village, and never come to our dear little church at Arden; and it is very childish and absurd of me, no doubt, but I don't think I ever could like them." "It is very absurd of you, Clary," returned my lady; "and if I could be angry with you for anything, it certainly would be for this unjust prejudice against people I want you to like. Think what a nice companion Miss Granger would be for you when you are at home--so near a neighbour, and really a very superior girl." "I don't want a companion; I am used to being alone." "Well, well, when you come to know her, you will like her very much, I daresay, in spite of yourself; that will be my triumph. I am bent upon bringing about friendly relation, between your father and Mr. Granger." "You will never do that, Lady Laura." "I don't know. I have a profound faith in my own ideas." * * * * * CHAPTER XI. DANIEL GRANGER.