Yes, she told herself, this marriage, humble as it might be, was altogether satisfactory.  Her own feeling towards the man of her granddaughter’s choice was one of instinctive affection.  Her heart had yearned to him from the beginning of their acquaintance; but she had schooled herself to hide all indications of her liking for him, she had made every effort to keep him at a distance, deeming his very merits a source of danger in a household where there were two fresh impressionable girls.

And despite all her caution and care he had succeeded in winning one of those girls:  and she was glad, very glad, that he had so succeeded in baffling her prudence.  And now it was agreeable to discover that he was not quite such a pauper as she had supposed him to be.

Her heart felt lighter than it had been for some time when she set about planning the wedding.

The first step in the business was to send for James Steadman.  He came immediately, grave and quiet as of old, and stood with his serious eyes bent upon the face of his mistress, awaiting her instructions.

’Lady Mary is going to be married to Mr. Hammond, by special licence, in this room, to-morrow afternoon, if it can be managed so soon,’ said Lady Maulevrier.

‘I am very glad to hear it, my lady,’ answered Steadman, without the faintest indication of surprise.

‘Why are you so—­particularly glad?’ asked his mistress, looking at him sharply.

’Because Lady Mary’s presence in this house is a source of danger to—­your arrangements.  She is very energetic and enterprising—­very shrewd—­and—­well, she is a woman—­so I suppose there can be no harm in saying she is somewhat inquisitive.  Things will be much safer here when Lady Mary is gone!’

’But she will not be gone—­she is not going away—­except for a very brief honeymoon.  I cannot possibly do without her.  She has become necessary to my life, Steadman; and there is so little left of that life now, that there is no need for me to sacrifice the last gleams of sunshine.  The girl is very sweet, and loving, and true.  I was not half fond enough of her in the past; but she has made herself very dear to me of late.  There are many things in this life, Steadman, which we only find out too late.’

’But, surely, my lady, Lady Mary will leave Fellside to go to a home of her own after her marriage.’

‘No, I tell you, Steadman,’ his mistress answered, with a touch of impatience; ’Lady Mary and her husband will make this house their home so long as I am here.  It will not be long.’

‘God grant it may be very long before you cease to be mistress here,’ answered Steadman, with real feeling; and then in a lower tone he went on:  ’Pardon me, my lady, for the suggestion, but do you think it wise to have Mr. Hammond here as a resident?’

‘Why should it not be wise?  Mr. Hammond is a gentleman.’

’True, my lady; but any accident, such as that which brought Lady Mary into the old garden——­’