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110 such intimacy. Probably at the moment she was right, for she was quick at reading such small signs. It behoved her to be very careful, and to indulge in no pleasure which might be costly; and therefore she had denied herself in this matter,—as in so many others.

Bat now it had occurred to her that it might be well to change her conduct. Either she felt that Sir Peregrine's friendship for her was too confirmed to be shaken, or perhaps she fancied that she might strengthen it by means of his daughter-in-law. At any rate she resolved to accept the offer which had once been tacitly made to her, if it were still open to her to do so.

'How little changed your boy is!' she said when they were seated near to each other, with their coffee-cups between them.

'No; he does not change quickly; and, as you say, he is a boy still in many things. I do not know whether it may not be better that it should be so.'

'I did not mean to call him a boy in that sense,' said Lady Mason.

'But you might; now your son is quite a man.'

'Poor Lucius! yes; in his position it is necessary. His little bit of property is already his own; and then he has no one like Sir Peregrine to look out for him. Necessity makes him manly.'

'He will be marrying soon, I dare say,' suggested Mrs. Orme.

'Oh, I hope not. Do you think that early marriages are good for young men?'

'Yes, I think so. Why not?' said Mrs, Orme, thinking of her own year of married happiness. 'Would you not wish to see Lucius marry?'

'I fancy not. I should be afraid lest I should become as nothing to him. And yet I would not have you think that I am selfish.'

'I am sure that you are not that. I am sure that you love him better than all the world besides. I can feel what that is myself.'

'But you are not alone with your boy as I am. If he were to send me from him, there would be nothing left for me in this world.'

'Send you from him! Ah, because Orley Farm belongs to him. But he would not do that; I am sure he would not.'

'He would do nothing unkind; but how could he help it if his wife wished it? But nevertheless I would not keep him single for that reason;—no, nor for any reason if I knew that he wished to marry. But it would be a blow to me.'

'I sincerely trust that Peregrine may marry early,' said Mrs. Orme, perhaps thinking that babies were preferable either to rats or foxes.

'Yes, it would be well I am sure, because you have ample means, and the house is large; and you would have his wife to love.'