ourt very well. I
didn't mean her ladyship any disrespect."

"Oh dear, no, of course not, Mr. Pritchett. Who would think such a
thing of you, who's known her from a baby?"

"Yes, I have know'd her from a babby, ma'am. That's just it; and I've
know'd you from amost a babby too, ma'am."

"That was a very long time ago, Mr. Pritchett."

"Yes, it is some years now, certainly, Miss Baker. I'm not so young
as I was; I know that." Mr. Pritchett's voice at this juncture would
have softened the heart of any stone that had one. "But this is what
it is, ma'am; you're going to live with the old gentleman now."

"Yes, I believe I am."

"Well, now; about Mr. George, ma'am."

"Mr. George!"

"Yes, Mr. George, Miss Baker. It ain't of course for me to say
anything of what goes on between young ladies and young gentlemen. I
don't know anything about it, and never did; and I don't suppose I
never shall now. But they two was to have been one, and now they're
two." Mr. Pritchett could not get on any further without pausing for
breath.

"The match was broken off, you know."

"It was broke off. I say nothing about that, nor about them who did
it. I know nothing, and therefore I say nothing; but this I do say:
that it will be very hard--very hard, and very cruel if so that the
old gentleman is set against Mr. George because Sir Henry Harcourt
has got a handle to his name for himself."

The conference ended in a promise on Miss Baker's part that she, at
least, would say nothing against Mr. George; but with an assurance,
also, that it was impossible for her to say anything in his favour.

"You may be sure of this, Mr. Pritchett, that my uncle will never
consult me about his money."

"He'll never consult any human being, ma'am. He wouldn't consult
Solomon if Solomon were to go to Hadley o' purpose. But you might
slip in a word that Mr. George was not in fault; mightn't you,
ma'am?"

Miss Baker reiterated her promise that she would not at any rate say
anything evil of George Bertram.

"He is such a foolish young man, ma'am; so like a baby about money.
It's that's why I feel for him, because he is so foolish."

And then Miss Baker prosecuted her journey, and reached Littlebath in
safety.

She had not been long there before Sir Lionel had heard all the
news. Miss Baker, without knowing that a process of pumping had been
applied to her, soon made him understand that for the present Sir
Harcourt had certainly not been received i