"
"Better informed than the fact, may be," said Mr. Gould (for a man
always scouts a woman's gossip).
"No, indeed. Poor dear child, she is blinded purposely. She never
guessed why she was sent to Kencroft while the old Colonel was called
in, and they all agreed that the will should be kept back till the
wedding with Mr. Allen should be over, and he could make up the rest.
So now the child is to be sent to town, and surrounded with Mrs.
Brownlow's creatures to prey upon her innocence. But you have no
care for your own niece-—none!"
CHAPTER XXIX. FRIENDS AND UNFRIENDS.
Ay, and, I think,
One business doth command us all; for mine
Is money.
Timon of Athens.
Before the door of one of the supremely respectable and aristocratic
but somewhat gloomy-looking houses in Cavendish Square, whose mauve
plate-glass windows and link-extinguishers are like fossils of a past
era of civilisation, three riding horses were being walked up and
down, two with side-saddles and one for a gentleman. They were taken
aside as a four-wheel drove up, while a female voice exclaimed—-
"Ah! we are just it time!"
Cards and a note were sent in with a request to see Miss Menella.
Word came back that Miss Menella was just going out riding; but on
the return of a message that the visitors came from Mrs.
Pages:
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580