"To Carbury Manor!" said he, as he eat some devilled kidneys which the cook had been specially ordered to get for his breakfast. "I thought you found it so dull that you didn't mean to go there any more." "I never said so, Felix. And now I have a great object." "What will Hetta do?" "Go too--why shouldn't she?" "Oh; I didn't know. I thought that perhaps she mightn't like it." "I don't see why she shouldn't like it. Besides, everything can't give way to her." "Has Roger asked you?" "No; but I'm sure he'd be pleased to have us if I proposed that we should all go." "Not me, mother!" "Yes; you especially." "Not if I know it, mother. What on earth should I do at Carbury Manor?" "Madame Melmotte told me last night that they were all going down to Caversham to stay three or four days with the Longestaffes. She spoke of Lady Pomona as quite her particular friend." "Oh--h! that explains it all." "Explains what, Felix?" said Lady Carbury, who had heard of Dolly Longestaffe, and was not without some fear that this projected visit to Caversham might have some matrimonial purpose in reference to that delightful young heir. "They say at the club that Melmotte has taken up old Longestaffe's affairs, and means to put them straight. There's an old property in Sussex as well as Caversham, and they say that Melmotte is to have that himself. There's some bother because Dolly, who would do anything for anybody else, won't join his father in selling. So the Melmottes are going to Caversham!" "Madame Melmotte told me so." "And the Longestaffes are the proudest people in England." "Of course we ought to be at Carbury Manor while they are there. What can be more natural? Everybody goes out of town at Whitsuntide; and why shouldn't we run down to the family place?" "All very natural if you can manage it, mother." "And you'll come?" "If Marie Melmotte goes, I'll be there at any rate for one day and night," said Felix. His mother thought that, for him, the promise had been graciously made. CHAPTER XIII. THE LONGESTAFFES.