the little lord's
family."

"Really, Lady Ongar, I think not. When your ladyship returned there was
some opposition thought of for a while, but I really do not think it was
their fault."

"No, it was not their fault."

"That was my feeling at the time; it was, indeed."

"It was the fault of Lord Ongar--of my husband. As regards all the
Courtons, I have no word of complaint to make. It is not to be
expected--it is not desirable that they and I should be friends. It is
impossible, after what has passed, that there should be such friendship.
But they have never injured me, and I wish to oblige them. Had Ongar
Park suited me, I should doubtless have kept it; but it does not suit
me, and they are welcome to have it back again.

"Has a price been named, Lady Ongar?"

"No price need be named. There is to be no question of a price. Lord
Ongar's mother is welcome to the place--or rather to such interest as I
have in it."

"And to pay a rent?" suggested Mr. Turnbull.

"To pay no rent. Nothing would induce me to let the place, or to sell my
right in it. I will have no bargain about it. But as nothing also will
induce me to live there, I am not such a dog in the manger as to wish to
keep it. If you will have the kindness to see Mr. Courton's lawyer, and
to make arrangements about it."

"But, Lady Ongar, what you call your right in the estate is worth over
twenty thousand pounds--it is, indeed. You could borrow twenty thousand
pounds on the security of it to-morrow."

"But I don't want to borrow twenty thousand pounds."

"No, no, exactly--of course you don't. But I point out that fact to show
the value. You would be making a present of that sum of money to people
who do not want it--who have no claim upon you. I really don't see how
they could take it."

"Mrs. Courton wishes to have the place very much."

"But, my lady, she has never thought of getting it without paying for
it. Lady Ongar, I really can not advise you to take any such step as
that--indeed, I can not. I should be wrong, as your lawyer, if I did not
point out to you that such a proceeding would be quite romantic--quite
so--what the world would call Quixotic. People don't expect such things
as that--they don't, indeed."

"People don't often have such reasons as I have," said Lady Ongar. Mr.
Turnbull sat silent for a while, looking as though he were unhappy. The
proposition made to him was one which, as a lawyer, he felt to be very
distasteful to him.