Page:Arminell, a social romance (1896).djvu/218

210 "Possibly for that reason he is discontented. Some men like to make their own fortunes, not to have them made for them. You have, in my opinion, done too much for the young fellow."

"He was consumptive and would certainly have died, had I not sent him abroad."

"Yes—but after that?"

"Then he was unfit for manual labour, and he was an intelligent lad, refined, and delicate still. So I had him educated."

"Are you sure he is grateful for what you have done for him?"

Lord Lamerton shrugged his shoulders. "I never gave a thought to that. I suppose so."

"I am not sure that he is. Look at children, they accept as their due everything given them, all care shown them, and pay no regard to the sacrifices made for them. There is no conscious gratitude in children. I should not be surprised if it were the same with young Saltren. I do not altogether trust him. There is a something in him I do not like. He does his duty by Giles. He is respectful to you and me—and yet—I have no confidence in him."

"Julia," said Lord Lamerton with a laugh, "I know what it is, you mistrust him because he is not a gentleman by birth."

"Not at all," answered his wife, warmly. "Though I grant that there is a better guarantee for a man of birth conducting himself properly in a place of trust, because he has deposited such stakes. Even if he have not principle in himself, he will not act as if he had none, for fear of losing caste. Whereas one with no connections about him to hold him in check will only act aright if he have principle. But we have gone from our topic, which was, not Jingles, but Arminell. I want to speak about her, and about him only so far as he influences her for good or bad. I will tell you my cause of uneasiness."