to
stand between us, and, by heavens, no one shall. I will do nothing
secretly, so I tell you that, exactly as I have told her ladyship."

"But what does she say?

"She says nothing; but it cannot go on like that. My mother and I
cannot live here together if she opposes me in this way. I do not
want to frighten your sister by going over to her at Hogglestock, but
I expect you to tell her so much as I now tell you, as coming from
me; otherwise she will think that I have forgotten her."

"She will not think that."

"She need not; good-bye, old fellow. I'll make it all right between
you and her ladyship about this affair of Sowerby's." And then he
took his leave and walked off to settle about the payment of the
money.

"Mother," said he to Lady Lufton that evening, "you must not bring
this affair of the bailiffs up against Robarts. It has been more my
fault than his."

Hitherto not a word had been spoken between Lady Lufton and her
son on the subject. She had heard with terrible dismay of what had
happened, and had heard also that Lord Lufton had immediately gone
to the parsonage. It was impossible, therefore, that she should now
interfere. That the necessary money would be forthcoming she was
aware, but that would not wipe out the terrible disgrace attached
to an execution in a clergyman's house. And then, too, he was her
clergyman,--her own clergyman, selected and appointed, and brought to
Framley by herself, endowed with a wife of her own choosing, filled
with good things by her own hand! It was a terrible misadventure, and
she began to repent that she had ever heard the name of Robarts. She
would not, however, have been slow to put forth the hand to lessen
the evil by giving her own money, had this been either necessary or
possible. But how could she interfere between Robarts and her son,
especially when she remembered the proposed connexion between Lucy
and Lord Lufton?

"Your fault, Ludovic?"

"Yes, mother. It was I who introduced him to Mr. Sowerby; and, to
tell the truth, I do not think he would ever have been intimate
with Sowerby if I had not given him some sort of a commission with
reference to money matters then pending between Mr. Sowerby and me.
They are all over now,--thanks to you, indeed."

"Mr. Robarts's character as a clergyman should have kept him from
such troubles, if no other feeling did so."

"At any rate, mother, oblige me by letting it pass by."

"Oh, I shall say nothing to him."