He knew that his client had no male friends in whom
she confided, and he felt that the world would blame him if he allowed
this lady to part with her property in the way she had suggested. "You
will find that I am in earnest," she continued, smiling, "and you may as
well give way to my vagaries with a good grace."

"They would not take it, Lady Ongar."

"At any rate, we can try them. If you will make them understand that I
don't at all want the place, and that it will go to rack and ruin
because there is no one to live there, I am sure they will take it."

Then Mr. Turnbull again sat silent and unhappy, thinking with what words
he might best bring forward his last and strongest argument against this
rash proceeding.

"Lady Ongar," he said, "in your peculiar position, there are double
reasons why you should not act in this way."

"What do you mean, Mr. Turnbull? What is my peculiar position?"

"The world will say that you have restored Ongar Park because you were
afraid to keep it. Indeed, Lady Ongar, you had better let it remain as
it is."

"I care nothing for what the world says," she exclaimed, rising quickly
from her chair--"nothing, nothing!"

"You should really hold by your rights--you should, indeed. Who can
possibly say what other interests may be concerned? You may marry, and
live for the next fifty years, and have a family. It is my duty, Lady
Ongar, to point out these things to you."

"I am sure you are quite right, Mr. Turnbull." she said, struggling to
maintain a quiet demeanor. "You, of course, are only doing your duty.
But whether I marry or whether I remain as I am, I shall give up this
place. And as for what the world, as you call it, may say, I will not
deny that I cared much for that on my immediate return. What people said
then made me very unhappy. But I care nothing for it now. I have
established my rights, and that has been sufficient. To me it seems that
the world, as you call it, has been civil enough in its usage of me
lately. It is only of those who should have been my friends that I have
a right to complain. If you will please to do this thing for me, I will
be obliged to you."

"If you are quite determined about it--"

"I am quite determined. What is the use of the place to me? I never
shall go there. What is the use even of the money that comes to me? I
have no purpose for it. I have nothing to do with it."

There was something in her tone as she said this which well filled hi