She sighed again and Mr. Legg left this delicate ground.

“If the man can only be brought to see he’s wrong about his fanciful opinion of ‘The Tiger,’ all may go right for you,” he continued.  “I don’t care for his feelings over-much, but your peace of mind I do consider.  At present he dares to think you’re a silly woman whose goose is a swan.  That’s very disorderly coming from the man who’s going to marry you.  Therefore you must get some clear-sighted person to open his eyes, and make it bitter clear to him that ‘The Tiger’ never was and never will be a place to draw nice minds and the female element like us.”

“There’s nobody could put it to him better than you,” she said.

“At another time, perhaps—­not now.  I’m not clever, Nelly; but I’m too clever to edge in between a man like Gurd and his future wife.  If we stood different, then nobody would open his mouth quicker than me.”

“We may stand different yet,” she answered.  “There was a good deal of passion when we met, and not the sort of passion you expect between lovers, either.”

“If that is so,” he answered, “then we can only leave it for the future.  But this I’ll certainly say:  if you tell me presently that you’re free to the nation once more and have changed your mind about Richard, then I’d very soon let him know there’s a gulf fixed between ‘The Tiger’ and ‘The Seven Stars’; and if you said the word, he’d see that gulf getting broader and broader under his living eyes.”

“I’d have overlooked most anything but what he actually said,” she declared.  “But to strike at the garden—­However, I’ll see him, and if I find he’s feeling like what I am, it’s quite in human reason that we may undo the past before it’s too late.”

“And always remember it’s his own will you shall live at ‘The Tiger,’” warned Job.  “Excuse my bluntness in reminding you of his words; which, no doubt, you committed to memory long before you told me about ’em; but the point lies there.  You can’t be in two places at once, and so sure as you sign yourself ‘Gurd,’ you’ll sell, or sublet ‘The Seven Stars.’  In fact, even a simple brain like mine can see you’ll sell, for Richard will never be content to let you serve two masters; and where the treasure is, there will the heart be also.  And to one of your delicate feelings, to know strange hands are in this house, and strange things being done, and liberties taken with the edifice and the garden, very likely.  But I don’t want to paint any such dreadful picture as that, and, of course, if you honestly love Richard, though you’re the first woman that ever could—­then enough said.”

“The question is whether he loves me.  However, I’ll turn it over; and no doubt he will,” she answered.  “I see him to-morrow.”

“And don’t leave anything uncertain, if I may advise,” concluded Mr. Legg.  “I speak as a child in these matters; but, if he’s looking at this thing same as you are, and if you both feel you’d be finer ornaments of society apart, than married, all I say is don’t let any false manhood on his part, or modesty on yours, keep you to it.  Better be good neighbours than bad partners.  And if I’ve said too much, God forgive me.”