They both cried out at this, Lord Rotherwood with a halting declaration of perfect equality, which his lady seconded, with a dexterous reference to connections.

‘We will not put it on rank then,’ said Sir Jasper, ’but on wealth.  With you, Maria must become accustomed to much that she could not continue, and had better not become natural to her.  I know there are great advantages to manners and general cultivation in being with you, and we shall be most thankful to let her pay long visits, and be as much with Phyllis as is consistent with feeling her home with us, but I cannot think it right to do more.’

‘But with introductions,’ pleaded Lady Rotherwood, ’she might marry well.  With her family and connections, she would be a match for any one.’

‘I hope so,’ said Sir Jasper; ’but at the same time it would not be well for her to look on such a marriage as the means of continuing the habits that would have become second nature.’

‘Poor Mysie,’ exclaimed Lord Rotherwood, bursting out laughing at the idea, and at Lady Merrifield’s look as she murmured, ‘My Mysie!’

‘You misunderstand me,’ said the Marchioness composedly.  ’I was as far as possible from proposing marriage as a speculation for her.’

‘I know you were,’ said Sir Jasper.  ’I know you would deal by Maria as by your own daughter, and I am very grateful to you, Lady Rotherwood, but I can only come back to my old decision, that as Providence did not place her in your rank of life, she had better not become so accustomed to it as to render her own distasteful to her.’

‘Exactly what I expected,’ said Lord Rotherwood.

‘Yes,’ returned his wife, with an effort of generosity; ’and I believe you are right, Jasper, though I am sorry for my little solitary girl, and I never saw a friend so perfectly suitable for her as your Mysie.’

‘They may be friends still,’ said Lord Rotherwood, ’and we will be grateful to you whenever you can spare her to us.’

‘Perhaps,’ added Sir Jasper, ’all the more helpful friends for seeing different phases of life.’

’And, said his wife, with one of her warm impulses, ’I do thank you, Victoria, for so loving my Mysie.’

‘As if any one could help it, after last winter,’ said that lady, and an impromptu kiss passed between the two mothers, much to the astonishment of the Marquis, who had never seen his lady so moved towards any one.

The Merrifields were somewhat on the world, for Sir Jasper, on going to Silverfold and corresponding with the trustees of the landlord, had found that the place could not be put in a state either of repair or sanitation, such as he approved, without more expense than either he or the trustees thought advisable, and he decided on giving it up, and remaining at Il Lido till he could find something more suitable.