ter expended, since it had brought him
back to his own house. He had thanked her for it in his own open way,
declaring that he would pay it back to her during the coming year,
and comforting her heart by his rejoicing that the property had not
been sold. "I don't like the idea of parting with an acre of it," he
had said.

"Of course not, Ludovic. Never let the estate decrease in your hands.
It is only by such resolutions as that that English noblemen and
English gentlemen can preserve their country. I cannot bear to see
property changing hands."

"Well, I suppose it's a good thing to have land in the market
sometimes, so that the millionaires may know what to do with their
money."

"God forbid that yours should be there!" And the widow made a little
mental prayer that her son's acres might be protected from the
millionaires and other Philistines.

"Why, yes: I don't exactly want to see a Jew tailor investing his
earnings at Lufton," said the lord.

"Heaven forbid!" said the widow. All this, as I have said, was very
nice. It was manifest to her ladyship, from his lordship's way of
talking, that no vital injury had as yet been done: he had no cares
on his mind, and spoke freely about the property: but nevertheless
there were clouds even now, at this period of bliss, which somewhat
obscured the brilliancy of Lady Lufton's sky. Why was Ludovic so slow
in that affair of Griselda Grantly? why so often in these latter
winter days did he saunter over to the parsonage? And then that
terrible visit to Gatherum Castle! What actually did happen at
Gatherum Castle, she never knew. We, however, are more intrusive,
less delicate in our inquiries, and we can say. He had a very bad
day's sport with the West Barsetshire. The county is altogether short
of foxes, and some one who understands the matter must take that
point up before they can do any good. And after that he had had
rather a dull dinner with the duke. Sowerby had been there, and in
the evening he and Sowerby had played billiards. Sowerby had won a
pound or two, and that had been the extent of the damage done. But
those saunterings over to the parsonage might be more dangerous. Not
that it ever occurred to Lady Lufton as possible that her son should
fall in love with Lucy Robarts. Lucy's personal attractions were not
of a nature to give ground for such a fear as that. But he might turn
the girl's head with his chatter; she might be fool enough to fancy
any folly; and,