“It will be a dreadful bore having them so long,” said poor Lady Mountjoy, piteously, to her husband.  For in the presence of Sir Magnus she was by no means the valiant woman that she was with some of her friends.

“You find everything a bore.  What’s the trouble?”

“What am I to do with them?”

“Take ’em about in the carriage.  Lord bless my soul! what have you got a carriage for?”

“Then, with Miss Abbott, there’s never room for any one else.”

“Leave Miss Abbott at home, then.  What’s the good of talking to me about Miss Abbott?  I suppose it doesn’t matter to you whom my brother’s daughter marries?” Lady Mountjoy did not think that it did matter much; but she declared that she had already evinced the most tender solicitude.  “Then stick to it.  The girl doesn’t want to go out every day.  Leave her alone, where Anderson can get at her.”

“He’s always out riding with you.”

“No, he’s not; not always.  And leave Miss Abbott at home.  Then there’ll be room for two others.  Don’t make difficulties.  Anderson will expect that I shall do something for him, of course.”

“Because of the money,” said Lady Mountjoy, whispering.

“And I’ve got to do something for her too.”  Now, there was a spice of honesty about Sir Magnus.  He knew that as he could not at once pay back these sums, he was bound to make it up in some other way.  The debts would be left the same.  But that would remain with Providence.

Then came Harry’s letter, and there was a deep consultation.  It was known to have come from Harry by the Buntingford post-mark.  Mrs. Mountjoy proposed to consult Lady Mountjoy; but to that Sir Magnus would not agree.  “She’d take her skin off her if she could, now that she’s angered,” said the lady’s husband, who no doubt knew the lady well.  “Of course she’ll learn that the letter has been written, and then she’ll throw it in our teeth.  She wouldn’t believe that it had gone astray in coming here.  We should give her a sort of a whip-hand over us.”  So it was decided that Florence should have her letter.

CHAPTER XXXI.

FLORENCE’S REQUEST.

Thus it was arranged that Florence should be left in Mr. Anderson’s way.  Mr. Anderson, as Sir Magnus had said, was not always out riding.  There were moments in which even he was off duty.  And Sir Magnus contrived to ride a little earlier than usual so that he should get back while the carriage was still out on its rounds.  Lady Mountjoy certainly did her duty, taking Mrs. Mountjoy with her daily, and generally Miss Abbott, so that Florence was, as it were, left to the mercies of Mr. Anderson.  She could, of course, shut herself up in her bedroom, but things had not as yet become so bad as that.  Mr. Anderson had not made himself terrible to her.  She did not, in truth, fear Mr. Anderson at all, who was courteous in his manner and complimentary in his