" He paused
for a second, and the Baroness, who had seated herself on the divan
at his side, leaned forward and looked inquiringly in his face.
"You are going away?" she asked, with a tremor in her voice. "Is it
not very sudden?"
"No, I am not going away," he replied, "not from Beryngford--but I
shall doubtless leave your house ere many months. I am engaged to be
married to Miss Mabel Lawrence. You are the first person to whom I
have imparted the news, but you have been so kind, and I feel that
you ought to know it in time to secure a desirable tenant for my
room."
Again there was a pause. The rosy face of the Baroness had grown
quite pale, and an unpleasant expression had settled about the
corners of her small mouth. She waved a feather fan to and fro
languidly. Then she gave a slight laugh and said:
"Well, I must confess that I am surprised. Miss Lawrence is the last
woman in the world whom I would have imagined you to select as a
wife. Yet I congratulate you on your good sense. You are very
ambitious, and you can rise to great distinction if you have the
right influence to aid you. Judge Lawrence, with his wealth and
position, is of all men the one who can advance your interests, and
what more natural than that he should advance the interests of his
son-in-law? You are a very wise youth and I again congratulate you.
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