“I am not so sure of that,” said Peter’s mother.

Lady Tintern’s turn took her no further than the fountain garden, where she sank down upon a bench, and graciously requested her escort to occupy the vacant space by her side.

“I started at an unearthly hour this morning, and I am not so young as I was,” she said; “but I am particularly desirous of a good night’s rest, and I never can sleep with anything on my mind.  So I came over here to talk business.  By-the-by, I should have come over here long ago, if any one had had the sense to give me a hint that I had only to cross a muddy stream, in a flat-bottomed boat, in order to see a face like that—­” She nodded towards the terrace.

John’s colour rose slightly.  He put the nod and the smile, and the sharp glance of the dark eyes together, and perceived that Lady Tintern had drawn certain conclusions.

“There is some expression in her face,” said the old lady, musingly, “which makes me think of Marie Stuart’s farewell to France.  I don’t know why.  I have odd fancies.  I believe the Queen of Scots had hazel eyes, whereas this pretty Lady Mary has the bluest eyes I ever saw—­quite remarkable eyes.”

“Those blue eyes,” said John, smiling, “have never looked beyond this range of hills since Lady Mary’s childhood.”

The old lady nodded again.  “Eh—­a State prisoner.  Yes, yes.  She has that kind of look.”  Then she turned to John, with mingled slyness and humour, “On va changer tout cela?”

“As you have divined,” he answered, laughing in spite of himself.  “Though how you have divined it passes my poor powers of comprehension.”

Lady Tintern was pleased.  She liked tributes to her intelligence as other women enjoy recognition of their good looks.

“It is very easy, to an observer,” she said.  “She is frightened at her own happiness.  Yes, yes.  And that cub of a boy would not make it easier.  By-the-by, I came to talk of the boy.  You are his guardian?”

“For a week.”

“What does it signify for how long?  Five minutes will settle my views.  Thank Heaven I did not come later, or I should have had to talk to him, instead of to a man of sense.  You must have seen what is going on.  What do you think of it?”

“The arrangement suits me so admirably,” said John, smiling, “that I am hardly to be relied upon for an impartial opinion.”

“Will you tell me his circumstances?”

John explained them in a few words, and with admirable terseness and lucidity; and she nodded comprehensively all the while.

“That’s capital.  He can’t make ducks and drakes of it.  All tied up on the children.  I hope they will have a dozen.  It would serve Sarah right.  Now for my side.  Whatever sum the trustees decide to settle upon Sir Peter’s wife, I will put down double that sum as Sarah’s dowry.  Our solicitors can fight the rest out between them.  The property is much better than I had