On the day after Stornham village had learned that her ladyship and Miss Vanderpoel had actually gone to London, the dignified firm of Townlinson & Sheppard received a visit which created some slight sensation in their establishment, though it had not been entirely unexpected.  It had, indeed, been heralded by a note from Miss Vanderpoel herself, who had asked that the appointment be made.  Men of Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard’s indubitable rank in their profession could not fail to know the significance of the Vanderpoel name.  They knew and understood its weight perfectly well.  When their client had married one of Reuben Vanderpoel’s daughters, they had felt that extraordinary good fortune had befallen him and his estate.  Their private opinion had been that Mr. Vanderpoel’s knowledge of his son-in-law must have been limited, or that he had curiously lax American views of paternal duty.  The firm was highly reputable, long established strictly conservative, and somewhat insular in its point of view.  It did not understand, or seek to understand, America.  It had excellent reasons for thoroughly understanding Sir Nigel Anstruthers.  Its opinions of him it reserved to itself.  If Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard had been asked to give a daughter into their client’s keeping, they would have flatly refused to accept the honour proposed.  Mr. Townlinson had, indeed, at the time of the marriage, admitted in strict confidence to his partner that for his part he would have somewhat preferred to follow a daughter of his own to her tomb.  After the marriage the firm had found the situation confusing and un-English.  There had been trouble with Sir Nigel, who had plainly been disappointed.  At first it had appeared that the American magnate had shown astuteness in refraining from leaving his son-in-law a free hand.  Lady Anstruthers’ fortune was her own and not her husband’s.  Mr. Townlinson, paying a visit to Stornham and finding the bride a gentle, childish-looking girl, whose most marked expression was one of growing timorousness, had returned with a grave face.  He foresaw the result, if her family did not stand by her with firmness, which he also foresaw her husband would prevent if possible.  It became apparent that the family did not stand by her—­or were cleverly kept at a distance.  There was a long illness, which seemed to end in the seclusion from the world, brought about by broken health.  Then it was certain that what Mr. Townlinson had foreseen had occurred.  The inexperienced girl had been bullied into submission.  Sir Nigel had gained the free hand, whatever the means he had chosen to employ.  Most improper—­most improper, the whole affair.  He had a great deal of money, but none of it was used for the benefit of the estate—­his deformed boy’s estate.  Advice, dignified remonstrance, resulted only in most disagreeable scenes.  Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard could not exceed certain limits.  The manner in which the money was spent was discreditable.  There were avenues a respectable firm knew only by rumour, there were insane gambling speculations, which could only end in disaster, there were things one could not decently concern one’s self with.  Lady Anstruthers’ family had doubtless become indignant and disgusted, and had dropped the whole affair.  Sad for the poor woman, but not unnatural.