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 had left the table. Lucius Mason also had died. He generally did die the first, having no aptitude for a collection of kings or aces, and so they two came together over the fire in the second drawing-room, far away from the card-players. There was nothing at all remarkable in this, as Mr. Furnival and one or two others who did not play commerce were also there; but nevertheless they were separated from those of the party who were most inclined to criticise their conduct.

'So you are leaving to-morrow, Mr. Mason,' said Sophia.

'Yes. I go home to-morrow after breakfast; to my own house, where for some weeks to come I shall be absolutely alone.'

'Your mother is staying at The Cleeve, I think.'

'Yes,—and intends remaining there as she tells me. I wish with all my heart she were at Orley Farm.'

'Papa saw her yesterday. He went over to The Cleeve on purpose to see her; and this morning he has been talking to me about her. I cannot tell you how I grieve for her.'

'It is very sad; very sad. But I wish she were in her own house. Under the circumstances as they now are, I think it would be better for her to be there than elsewhere. Her name has been disgraced—'

'No, Mr. Mason; not disgraced.'

'Yes; disgraced. Mark you; I do not say that she has been disgraced; and pray do not suppose it possible that I should think so. But a great opprobrium has been thrown on her name, and it would be better, I think, that she should remain at home till she has cast it off from her. Even for myself, I feel it almost wrong to be here; nor would I have come had I known when I did come as much as I do know now.'

'But no one can for a moment think that your mother has done anything that she should not have done.'

'Then why do so many people talk of her as though she had committed a great crime? Miss Furnival, I know that she is innocent. I know it as surely as I know the fact of my own existence—'

'And we all feel the same thing.'

'But if you were in my place,—if it were your father whose name was so bandied about in people's mouths, you would think that it behoved him to do nothing, to go nowhere, till he had forced the world to confess his innocence. And this is ten times stronger with regard to a woman. I have given my mother my counsel, and I regret to say that she differs from me.'

'Why do you not speak to papa?'

'I did once. I went to him at his chambers, and he rebuked me.'

'Rebuked you, Mr. Mason! He did not do that intentionally I am sure. I have heard him say that you are an excellent son.'