cur
to him to think what those young days had been. And this then was the
meaning of her receding from his advice and from his roof! She had
been preparing for herself in the world new hopes, a new home, and a
new ambition. And she had so prevailed upon the old man that he was
about to do this foolish thing! Then again he walked up and down the
room, injuring his mother much in his thoughts. He gave her credit
for none of those circumstances which had truly actuated her in
accepting the hand which Sir Peregrine had offered her. In that
matter touching the Orley Farm estate he could acquit his mother
instantly,--with acclamation. But in this other matter he had
pronounced her guilty before she had been allowed to plead. Then he
took up the letter and finished it.

Sir Peregrine Orme has made me an offer of marriage and
I have accepted it. It is very difficult to explain in a
letter all the causes that have induced me to do so. The
first perhaps is this, that I feel myself so bound to him
by love and gratitude, that I think it my duty to fall in
with all his wishes. He has pointed out to me that as my
husband he can do more for me than would be possible for
him without that name. I have explained to him that I
would rather perish than that he should sacrifice himself;
but he is pleased to say that it is no sacrifice. At any
rate he so wishes it, and as Mrs. Orme has cordially
assented, I feel myself bound to fall in with his views.
It was only yesterday that Sir Peregrine made his offer. I
mention this that you may know that I have lost no time in
telling you.

Dearest Lucius, believe that I shall be as ever
Your most affectionate mother,

MARY MASON.

The little girl will wait for an answer if she finds that
you are at the farm.

"No," he said to himself, still walking about the room. "She can
never be to me the same mother that she was. I would have sacrificed
everything for her. She should have been the mistress of my house, at
any rate till she herself should have wished it otherwise. But now--"
And then his mind turned away suddenly to Sophia Furnival.

I cannot myself but think that had that affair of the trial been set
at rest Lady Mason would have been prudent to look for another home.
The fact that Orley Farm was his house and not hers occurred almost
too frequently to Lucius Mason; and I am not certain that it would
have been altogether c