When she had kept the letter by her for a day she showed it to her father, and by his consent it was sent.  After much consultation it was agreed between them that nothing should be said about it to Mrs. Masters till the answer should come; and that, should the answer be favourable, the plan should be carved out in spite of any domestic opposition.  In this letter Mary told as accurately as she could the whole story of Larry’s courtship, and was very clear in declaring that under no possible circumstances could she encourage any hope.  But of course she said not a word as to any other man or as to any love on her side.  “Have you told her everything?” said her father as he closed the letter.

“Yes, papa;—­everything that there is to be told.”  Then there arose within his own bosom an immense desire to know that secret, so that if possible he might do something to relieve her pain;—­but he could not bring himself to ask further questions.

Lady Ushant on receiving the letter much doubted what she ought to do.  She acknowledged at once Mary’s right to appeal to her; and assured herself that the girl’s presence would be a comfort and a happiness to herself.  If Mary were quite alone in the world Lady Ushant would have been at once prepared to give her a home.  But she doubted as to the propriety of taking the girl from her own family.  She doubted even whether it would not be better that Mary should be left within the influence of Larry Twentyman’s charms.  A settlement, an income, and assured comforts for life are very serious things to all people who have reached Lady Ushant’s age.  And then she had a doubt within her own mind whether Mary might not be debarred from accepting this young man by some unfortunate preference for Reginald Morton.  She had seen them together and had suspected something of the truth before it had glimmered before the eyes of any one in Dillsborough.  Had Reginald been so inclined Lady Morton would have been very glad to see him marry Mary Masters.  For both their sakes she would have preferred such a match to one with the owner of Chowton Farm.  But she did not think that Reginald himself was that way minded, and she fancied that poor Mary might be throwing away her prosperity in life were she to wait for Reginald’s love.  Larry Twentyman was at any rate sure;—­and perhaps it might be unwise to separate the girl from her lover.

In her doubt she determined to refer the case to Reginald himself, and instead of writing to Mary she wrote to him.  She did not send him Mary’s letter,—­which would, she felt, have been a breach of faith; nor did she mention the name of Larry Twentyman.  But she told him that Mary had proposed to come to Cheltenham for a long visit because there were disturbances at home,—­which disturbances had arisen from her rejection of a certain suitor.  Lady Ushant said a great deal as to the inexpediency of fostering family quarrels, and suggested that Mary might perhaps