‘Come in,’ he said somewhat loudly.  He thought it was one of his sisters, who were apt to visit him at all hours and for all manner of reasons; and he, though he was usually gentle to them, was not at present exactly in a humour to be disturbed.

The door gently opened, and he saw his mother standing hesitating in the passage.

‘Can I come in, Frank?’ said she.

‘Oh, yes, mother; by all means:’  and then, with some surprise marked in his countenance, he prepared a seat for her.  Such a visit as this from Lady Arabella was very unusual; so much so, that he had probably not seen her in his own room since the day when he first left school.  He had nothing, however, to be ashamed of; nothing to conceal unless it were an open letter from Miss Dunstable which he had in his hand when she entered, and which he somewhat hurriedly thrust into his pocket.

’I wanted to say a few words to you, Frank, before you start for London about this business.’  Frank signified by a gesture, that he was quite ready to listen to her.

’I am so glad to see your father putting the matter into your hands.  You are younger than he is; and then—­I don’t know why, but somehow your father has never been a good man of business—­everything has gone wrong with him.’

‘Oh, mother! do not say anything against him.’

’No, Frank, I will not; I do not wish it.  Things have been unfortunate, certainly.  Ah me!  I little thought when I married—­but I don’t mean to complain—­I have excellent children, and I ought to be thankful for that.’

Frank began to fear that no good would be coming when his mother spoke in that strain.  ‘I will do the best I can,’ said he, ’up in town.  I can’t help thinking myself that Mr Gazebee might have done as well, but—­’

’Oh, dear no; by no means.  In such cases the principal must show himself.  Besides, it is right you should know how matters stand.  Who is so much interested in it as you are?  Poor Frank!  I do so often feel for you when I think how the property has dwindled.’

’Pray do not mind me, mother.  Why should you talk of it as my matter while my father is not yet forty-five?  His life, so to speak, is as good as mine.  I can do very well without it; all I want is to be allowed to settle to something.’

‘You mean a profession.’

‘Yes; something of that sort.’

’They are all so slow, dear Frank.  You, who speak French so well—­I should think my brother might get you in as an attache to some embassy.’

‘That wouldn’t suit me at all,’ said Frank.

’Well, we’ll talk about that some other time.  But I came about something else, and I do hope you will hear me.’

Frank’s brow again grew black, for he knew that his mother was about to say something which it would be disagreeable for him to hear.

‘I was with Mary, yesterday.’

‘Well, mother?’