“No!” said Mr. Benson, with an expression of pain in his countenance, though he, too, strove to speak in his usual tone.

“Leonard is not strong, and we find it difficult to induce him to go much out-of-doors.”

There was a little silence for a minute or two, during which Mr. Farquhar had to check an unbidden sigh.  But, suddenly rousing himself into a determination to change the subject, he said—­

“You will find rather a lengthened account of the exposure of Sir Thomas Campbell’s conduct at Baden.  He seems to be a complete blackleg, in spite of his baronetcy.  I fancy the papers are glad to get hold of anything just now.”

“Who is Sir Thomas Campbell?” asked Mr. Benson.

“Oh, I thought you might have heard the report—­a true one, I believe—­of Mr. Donne’s engagement to his daughter.  He must be glad she jilted him now, I fancy, after this public exposure of her father’s conduct.” (That was an awkward speech, as Mr. Farquhar felt; and he hastened to cover it, by going on without much connection.)

“Dick Bradshaw is my informant about all these projected marriages in high life—­they are not much in my way; but, since he has come down from London to take his share in the business, I think I have heard more of the news and the scandal of what, I suppose, would be considered high life, than ever I did before; and Mr. Donne’s proceedings seem to be an especial object of interest to him.”

“And Mr. Donne is engaged to a Miss Campbell, is he?”

“Was engaged; if I understood right, she broke off the engagement to marry some Russian prince or other—­a better match, Dick Bradshaw told me.  I assure you,” continued Mr. Farquhar, smiling, “I am a very passive recipient of all such intelligence, and might very probably have forgotten all about it, if the Times of this morning had not been so full of the disgrace of the young lady’s father.”

“Richard Bradshaw has quite left London, has he?” asked Mr. Benson, who felt far more interest in his old patron’s family than in all the Campbells that ever were or ever would be.

“Yes.  He has come to settle down here.  I hope he may do well, and not disappoint his father, who has formed very high expectations from him; I am not sure if they are not too high for any young man to realise.”  Mr. Farquhar could have said more; but Dick Bradshaw was Jemima’s brother, and an object of anxiety to her.

“I am sure, I trust such a mortification—­such a grief as any disappointment in Richard, may not befall his father,” replied Mr. Benson.

“Jemima—­Miss Bradshaw,” said Mr. Farquhar, hesitating, “was most anxious to hear of you all.  I hope I may tell her you are all well” (with an emphasis on all); “that——­”

“Thank you.  Thank her for us.  We are all well; all except Leonard, who is not strong, as I said before.  But we must be patient.  Time, and such devoted, tender love as he has from his mother, must do much.”