“And I should be very glad to do so, dear mother, but for the engagements that bind me here.”

She did not ask the very natural question of what those engagements might be.  She did not wish to let him see that she knew or suspected his attachment to Nora Worth, so she answered: 

“You refer to the improvements and additions you mean, to add to Brudenell Hall.  Surely these repairs had better be deferred until the spring, when the weather will be more favorable for such work?”

“My dear mother, all the alterations I mean to have made inside the house can very well be done this winter.  By the next summer I hope to have the whole place in complete order for you and my sisters to return and spend the warm weather with me.”

The lady lifted her head.  She had never known her son to be guilty of the least insincerity.  If he had looked forward to the coming of herself and her daughters to Brudenell, to spend the next summer, he could not, of course, be contemplating the removal of Nora Worth to the house.

“Then you really expect us to make this our home, as heretofore, every summer?” she said.

“I have no right to expect such a favor, my dear mother:  but I sincerely hope for it,” said the son courteously.

“But it is not every young bachelor living on his own estate who cares to be restrained by the presence of his mother and sisters; such generally desire a life of more freedom and gayety than would be proper with ladies in the house,” said Mrs. Brudenell.

“But I am not one of those, mother; you know that my habits are very domestic.”

“Yes.  Well, Herman, it may just as well be understood that myself and the girls will return here to spend the summer.  But now—­the previous question!  Can you not be prevailed on to accompany us to Washington?”

“My dear mother! anything on earth to oblige you I would do, if possible!  But see! you go on Saturday, and this is Thursday night.  There is but one intervening day.  I could not make the necessary arrangements.  I have much business to transact with my overseer; the whole year’s accounts still to examine, and other duties to do before I could possibly leave home.  But I tell you what I can do; I can hurry up these matters and join you in Washington at the end of the week, in full time to escort you and my sisters to that grand national ball of which I hear them incessantly talking.”

“And remain with us for the winter?”

“If you shall continue to wish it, and if I can find a builder, decorator, and upholsterer whom I can send down to Brudenell Hall, to make the improvements, and whom I can trust to carry out my ideas.”

The lady’s heart leaped for joy!  It was all right then! he was willing to leave the neighborhood! he had no particular attractions here! his affections were not involved! his acquaintance with that girl had been only a piece of transient folly, of which he was probably sick and tired!  These were her thoughts as she thanked her son for his ready acquiescence in her wishes.