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left Lady Mason very grateful at the end of the last chapter for the promise made to her by Sir Peregrine with reference to her son; but there was still a weight on Lady Mason's mind. They say that the pith of a lady's letter is in the postscript, and it may be that that which remained for Lady Mason to say, was after all the matter as to which she was most anxious for assistance. 'As you are here,' she said to the baronet, 'would you let me mention another subject?'

'Surely,' said he, again putting down his hat and riding-stick.

Sir Peregrine was not given to close observation of those around him, or he might have seen by the heightened colour of the lady's face, and by the slight nervous hesitation with which she began to speak, that she was much in earnest as to this other matter. And had he been clever in his powers of observation he might have seen also that she was anxious to hide this feeling. 'You remember the circumstances of that terrible lawsuit?' she said, at last.

'What; as to Sir Joseph's will? Yes; I remember them well.'

'I know that I shall never forget all the kindness that you showed me,' said she. 'I don't know how I should have lived through it without you and dear Mrs. Orme.'

'But what about it now?'

'I fear I am going to have further trouble.'

'Do you mean that the man at Groby Park is going to try the case again? It is not possible after such a lapse of time. I am no lawyer, but I do not think that he can do it.'

'I do not know—I do not know what he intends, or whether he intends anything; but I am sure of this,—that he will give me trouble if he can. But I will tell you the whole story, Sir Peregrine. It is not much, and perhaps after all may not be worth attention. You know the attorney in Hamworth who married Miriam Usbech?'

'What, Samuel Dockwrath? Oh, yes; I know him well enough; and to tell the truth I do not think very well of him. Is he not a tenant of yours?'

'Not at present.' And then Lady Mason explained the manner in which the two fields had been taken out of the lawyer's hands by her son's order.