worked up a very romantic situation out of the
affair. You see I have cause for anxiety, David."

He still held her hand, looking kindly in her face. "Is Lady Isabel the
right sort?" he asked.

"What do you mean by 'the right sort,' David? She isn't like her mother,
naturally, or I would have been more decided; but she is not the right
sort for us. Lady Willisbeck is ostracized, and it is a grave matter.
Her daughter will be ostracized with her, unless she can find a chaperon
of quality to champion her--to--to--well, you understand that Laura
can't afford to make her debut handicapped with such a friendship. Not
now."

"I fail to see until I know more of her friend."

"But, David, we can't be visionary now. We must be practical and face
the difficulties of our situation. We are honorably entitled to all that
the inheritance implies, but it is another thing to avail ourselves of
it. Your uncle led a most secluded life. He had no visitors, and was
known only among men, and politically as a close conservative. His seat
in the House meant only that. So now we enter a circle in which we never
moved before, and we are not of it. For the present, our deep mourning
is prohibitory, but it is also Laura's protection, although she does not
know it." His mother paused. She was not regarding him. She seemed to be
looking into the future, and a little line, which had formed during the
years of David's absence, deepened in her forehead.

"Be a little more explicit, mother. Protection from what?"

"From undesirable people, dear. We are very conspicuous; to be frank, we
are new. My own family connections are all good, but they will not be
the slightest help to Laura in maintaining her position. We have always
lived in the country, and know no one."

"You have refinement and good taste, mother."

"I know it; that and this inheritance and the title."

"Isn't that 'protection' enough? I really fail to see-- Whatever would
please you would be right. You may have what friendships you--"

"Not at all, David. Everything is iron-bound. They are simply watching
lest we bring a lot of common people in our train. Things grow worse and
worse in that way. There are so many rich tradespeople who are
struggling to get in, and clinging desperately to the skirts of the
poorer nobility. Of course, it all goes to show what a tremendous thing
good birth is, and the iron laws of custom are, after all, a proper
safeguard and should be respected.