I find she has thought out several
of the complex problems of our modern high-pressure life; and really
she gave me very valuable ideas upon my favourite theory of
'lady-helps,' to which I am devoting now so much of my spare time.
"Miss Fanshawe has promised to pay me a long visit at Purlington some
day soon--a real act of kindness which I fully appreciate. It will
indeed be a treat to a lonely old woman to find so entertaining a
guest and companion.
"When do you think of returning? Gollop tells me there are plenty of
pheasants this year. Surely, you have had enough of those dry German
_savants_ and that dull university-town?"
The hook was rather coarsely baited; it would hardly have deceived
the most guileless and unsuspecting. Harold Purling at a glance could
read between the lines; he could trace effect to cause, and readily
understood why his mother was so anxious for his return.
"One of Lady Gayfeather's girls, is she? I never thought much of that
lot. However--but why on earth should Lady Calverly take my dear
mother up in this way, at the eleventh hour?"
He would have wondered yet more if he had seen how cordially Mrs.
Purling had been welcomed to Compton Revel.
"It is so good of you to come to us," Lady Calverly said, with
effusion. "We are so glad to have you here, and have looked forward to
it for so long.
Pages:
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426