"What shall I do without her?" Maurice Glanvil presently demanded. "What will you do _with_ her?" his hostess replied, with a world of triumphant meaning. He was not prepared to say, in the sense of her question, and he took refuge in remarking that he noted her avoidance of any suggestion that he too would be welcome in Derbyshire; which led her to continue, with unshrinking frankness: "Certainly, I don't want you a bit. Leave us alone." "Is it safe?" "Of course I can't absolutely answer for anything, but at least it will be safer than with _you_," said Mrs. Tregent. Maurice Glanvil turned this over. "Does he dislike me?" "What an idea!" But the question had brought the colour to her face, and the sight of this, with her evasive answer, kindled in Maurice's heart a sudden relief, a delight almost, that was strange enough. Arthur was in opposition, plainly, and that was why he had so promptly quitted London, that was why Mrs. Tregent had refused Mr. Glanvil. The idea was an instant balm. "He'd be quite right, poor fellow!" Maurice declared. "I'll go abroad alone." "Let me keep her six months," said Mrs. Tregent. "I'll try it--I'll try it!" "I wouldn't interfere for the world." "It's an immense responsibility; but I should like so to succeed." "She's an angel!" Maurice said. "That's what gives me courage." "But she mustn't dream of any plot," he added. "For what do you take me?" Mrs. Tregent exclaimed with a smile which lightened up for him intensely that far-away troubled past as to which she had originally baffled his inquiry. The joy of perceiving in an aversion to himself a possible motive for Arthur's absence was so great in him that before he took leave of her he ventured to say to his old friend: "Does he like her at all?" "He likes her very much." Maurice remembered how much he had liked Fanny Knocker and been willing to admit it to his mother; but he presently observed: "Of course he can't think her in the least pretty." "As you say, she's an angel," Mrs. Tregent rejoined. "She would pass for one better if she were a few inches taller." "It doesn't matter," said Mrs. Tregent. "One must remember that in that respect, at her age, she won't change," Maurice pursued, wondering after he had spoken whether he had pressed upon the second pronoun.