’I am afraid your preferment will depend chiefly on James and young Calcott.’

’Nay, Louis tells me that he is going to read wonderfully hard; and if he chooses, he can do more than even Sydney Calcott.’

‘If!’ said the Earl.

Jane here entered with another cup and plate, and Lord Ormersfield sat down to the breakfast-table.  After some minutes’ pause he said, ‘Have you heard from Peru?’

‘Not by this mail.  Have you?’

‘Yes, I have.  Mary is coming home.’

‘Mary!’ she cried, almost springing up—­’Mary Ponsonby?  This is good news—­unless,’ as she watched his grave face, ’it is her health that brings her.’

’It is.  She has consulted the surgeon of the Libra, a very able man, who tells her that there is absolute need of good advice and a colder climate; and Ponsonby has consented to let her and her daughter come home in the Libra.  I expect them in February.’

’My poor Mary!  But she will get better away from him.  I trust he is not coming!’

‘Not he,’ said Lord Ormersfield.

‘Dear, dear Mary!  I had scarcely dared to hope to see her again,’ cried the old lady, with tears in her eyes.  ’I hope she will be allowed to be with us, not kept in London with his sister.  London does her no good.’

‘The very purport of my visit,’ said Lord Ormersfield, ’was to ask whether you could do me the favour to set aside your scholars, and enable me to receive Mrs. Ponsonby at home.’

’Thank you—­oh, thank you.  There is nothing I should like better, but I must consider—­’

’Clara would find a companion in the younger Mary in the holidays, and if James would make Fitzjocelyn his charge, it would complete the obligation.  It would be by far the best arrangement for Mary’s comfort, and it would be the greatest satisfaction to me to see her with you at Ormersfield.’

‘I believe it would indeed,’ said the old lady, more touched than the outward manner of the Earl seemed to warrant.  ’I would—­you know I would do my very best that you and Mary should be comfortable together’—­and her voice trembled—­’but you see I cannot promise all at once.  I must see about these little boys.  I must talk to Jem.  In short, you must not be disappointed’—­and she put her hands before her face, trying to laugh, but almost overcome.

‘Nay, I did not mean to press you,’ said Lord Ormersfield, gently; ’but I thought, since James has had the fellowship and Clara has been at school, that you wished to give up your pupils.’

‘So I do,’ said the lady, but still not yielding absolutely.

’For the rest, I am very anxious that James should accept Fitzjocelyn as his pupil.  I have always considered their friendship as the best hope, and other plans have had so little success, that—­’

‘I’m not going to hear Louis abused!’ she exclaimed, gaily.

‘Yes,’ said Lord Ormersfield, with a look nearly approaching a smile, ’you are the last person I ought to invite, if I wish to keep your nephew unspoiled.’