She waited with some impatience for an answer to her letter, and she had to wait some time; and then, when the reply came, it was anything but satisfactory. ‘MADAM,’ wrote the agent, ‘In reply to yours of the 10th instant, I beg to state that I have never had direct dealings with Mr. Torwood, but have merely managed his house-letting for him, and have paid the money over to his bankers. I am thus ignorant of his present address; but I have applied to Messrs. Coutts and Co., and enclose their reply. ‘I am, madam, your obedient servant, ‘J. WETHERBY.’ The enclosed note contained the information that Mr. Torwood was at present in very bad health, and was quite unable to attend to business. He was in Germany, but his actual address was unknown to his bankers. He had, however, entrusted the management of his affairs to Mr. Philip Debenham, whose address was ‘Ladywell Manor, Ladywell, Devonshire.’ Any business might be referred to him, as he was authorised to act for Mr. Torwood. ‘Bother!’ said Miss Marjory sharply. ‘What business had he to fall ill just as my lease was running out? I don’t want his friend; I want him. However, if I can’t get what I want, I must take the next best. I shall ask Mr. Debenham to come and see me, if he can, and explain to him how matters stand.’ ‘Perhaps he won’t like to be bothered about Mr. Torwood’s affairs,’ suggested Ethel. ‘Perhaps he won’t come.’ ‘He should not have undertaken to manage them, then,’ said Miss Marjory quickly. ‘He must abide by his own undertaking.’ ‘Shall you write to him now? I wonder what he will say? Perhaps he will be easier to deal with than Mr. Torwood.’ ‘I generally find men pretty easy to deal with,’ answered Miss Marjory. ‘They mostly see sense after a bit. Yes, I will ask him to run down. Devonshire is a good way off, to be sure. Still, there is no particular hurry. He can take his time. In fact, I won’t write immediately. I will think matters over again first.’ CHAPTER X. MAUD’S MATRIMONIAL VIEWS. There was no doubt that Maud Debenham made a charming mistress of Ladywell Manor. She had a natural grace and freshness, and a spontaneous vivacity that was very attractive; and when Tor, on Phil’s behalf, entertained the county, and made the Manor House the centre of much pleasant hospitality, Maud came in for a very large share of admiration; and she had no more devoted admirer than Torrington Torwood—her supposed brother. For a man to fall in love with the woman who is, in the eyes of the world, his own sister, is a distinctly awkward occurrence, and the situation is as unpleasant as it is peculiar.