"
He had evidently not strength to be more explicit. But Sir James had
heard from Lady Lucy of the failure of her secretarial attempt.
"I hear they talk of moving you for the winter."
"They talk of it. I shall oppose it."
"I hope not!--for Lady Lucy's sake. She is so hopeful about it, and she
is not fit herself to spend the winter in England."
"My mother must go," said Oliver, closing his eyes.
"She will never leave you."
Marsham made no reply; then, without closing his eyes again, he said,
between his teeth: "What is the use of going from one hell to another
hell--through a third--which is the worst of all?"
"You dread the journey?" said Sir James, gently. "But there are ways and
means."
"No!" Oliver's voice was sudden and loud. "There are none!--that make
any difference."
Sir James was left perplexed, cudgelling his brains as to what to
attempt next. It was Marsham, however, who broke the silence. With his
dimmed sight he looked, at last, intently, at his companion.
"Is--is Miss Mallory still at Beechcote?"
Sir James moved involuntarily.
"Yes, certainly."
"You see a great deal of her?"
"I do--I--" Sir James cleared his throat a little--I look upon her as my
adopted daughter.
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