’Miss Hale, I had a round-robin from some of my men—­I suspect in Higgins’ handwriting—­stating their wish to work for me, if ever I was in a position to employ men again on my own behalf.  That was good, wasn’t it?’

‘Yes.  Just right.  I am glad of it,’ said Margaret, looking up straight into his face with her speaking eyes, and then dropping them under his eloquent glance.  He gazed back at her for a minute, as if he did not know exactly what he was about.  Then sighed; and saying, ‘I knew you would like it,’ he turned away, and never spoke to her again until he bid her a formal ’good night.’

As Mr. Lennox took his departure, Margaret said, with a blush that she could not repress, and with some hesitation,

’Can I speak to you to-morrow?  I want your help about—­something.’

’Certainly.  I will come at whatever time you name.  You cannot give me a greater pleasure than by making me of any use.  At eleven?  Very well.’

His eye brightened with exultation.  How she was learning to depend upon him!  It seemed as if any day now might give him the certainty, without having which he had determined never to offer to her again.

CHAPTER LII

‘PACK CLOUDS AWAY’

’For joy or grief, for hope or fear,
For all hereafter, as for here,
In peace or strife, in storm or shine.’ 
ANON.

Edith went about on tip-toe, and checked Sholto in all loud speaking that next morning, as if any sudden noise would interrupt the conference that was taking place in the drawing-room.  Two o’clock came; and they still sate there with closed doors.  Then there was a man’s footstep running down stairs; and Edith peeped out of the drawing-room.

‘Well, Henry?’ said she, with a look of interrogation.

‘Well!’ said he, rather shortly.

‘Come in to lunch!’

‘No, thank you, I can’t.  I’ve lost too much time here already.’

‘Then it’s not all settled,’ said Edith despondingly.

’No! not at all.  It never will be settled, if the “it” is what I conjecture you mean.  That will never be, Edith, so give up thinking about it.’

‘But it would be so nice for us all,’ pleaded Edith.  ’I should always feel comfortable about the children, if I had Margaret settled down near me.  As it is, I am always afraid of her going off to Cadiz.’

’I will try, when I marry, to look out for a young lady who has a knowledge of the management of children.  That is all I can do.  Miss Hale would not have me.  And I shall not ask her.’

‘Then, what have you been talking about?’

’A thousand things you would not understand:  investments, and leases, and value of land.’

’Oh, go away if that’s all.  You and she will be unbearably stupid, if you’ve been talking all this time about such weary things.’

’Very well.  I’m coming again to-morrow, and bringing Mr. Thornton with me, to have some more talk with Miss Hale.’