has some
fortune--"

"Oliver will not live upon his wife!"

"He may accept her aid till he has found some way of earning money. What
amazes me--if you will allow me the liberty of an old friend--is that
you should think a woman justified in coercing a son of mature age in
such a matter!"

His tone, his manner pierced Lady Lucy's pride. She threw back her head
nervously, but her tone was calm:

"A woman to whom property has been intrusted must do her best to see
that the will and desires of those who placed it in her hands are
carried out!"

"Well, well!"--Sir James looked for his stick--"I am sorry for
Oliver--but"--he straightened himself--"it will make a bigger man
of him."

Lady Lucy made no reply, but her expression was eloquent of a patience
which her old friend might abuse if he would.

"Does Ferrier know? Have you consulted him?" asked Sir James, turning
abruptly.

"He will be here, I think, this afternoon--as usual," said Lady Lucy,
evasively. "And, of course, he must know what concerns us so deeply."

As she spoke the hall-door bell was heard.

"That is probably he." She looked at her companion uncertainly. "Don't
go, Sir James--unless you are really in a hurry."

The invitation was not urgent; but Sir James stayed, all the same.
Ferrier was a man so interesting to his friends that no judgment of his
could be indifferent to them. Moreover, there was a certain angry
curiosity as to how far Lady Lucy's influence would affect him. Chide
took inward note of the fact that his speculation took this form, and
not another. Oh! the hypocritical obstinacy of decent women!--the lack
in them of heart, of generosity, of imagination!

The door opened, and Ferrier entered, with Marsham and the butler behind
him. Mr. Ferrier, in his London frock-coat, appeared rounder and heavier
than ever but for the contradictory vigor and lightness of his step, the
shrewd cheerfulness of the eyes. It had been a hard week in Parliament,
however, and his features and complexion showed signs of overwork and
short sleep.

For a few minutes, while tea was renewed, and the curtains closed, he
maintained a pleasant chat with Lady Lucy, while the other two looked at
each other in silence.

But when the servant had gone, Ferrier put down his cup unfinished. "I
am very sorry for you both," he said, gravely, looking from Lady Lucy to
her son. "I need not say your letter this morning took me wholly by
surprise. I have since been doi