de----"

He was becoming bolder as he went on.

"Theo," she said tremulously, "it is too soon to begin to talk of that."

And then there was a pause again. When they came to the edge of the
pond, and stopped to look at the water-lilies, and at the white flood
of the moonlight, and all the clustering masses of the trees that hung
round as if to keep it hidden and sheltered, it was she who spoke: "Your
father was very fond of this view. Almost the last time he was out we
brought him here. He sat down for a long time, and was quite pleased. He
cared for beautiful things much more than he ever said."

The thought that passed through Theo's mind was very rapid, that it
might well be so, seeing nothing was ever said on the subject; but his
remark was, "Very likely, mother," in a soft and soothing voice.

"I should be very sorry to see any--I mean I hope you will not make much
alteration here."

"It is too soon," he said hastily, "to speak of that."

"Much too soon," she replied, with a quick sense of shame, taking
her son's arm as they turned back. Even to turn back made the burden
heavier, and dispelled the little advantage which they had got by the
walk.

"There will be, I suppose, a great number of people--on Friday."

"Yes, I think a great number; everybody about."

"What a nuisance! People might have sense enough to know that at such a
moment we don't want a lot of strange faces peering at us, finding out
how we bear up."

"My dear, it would have pleased him to know everybody would be there."

"I suppose so," said Theo, in a tone which was half angry and half
resigned.

"We will have to take a little thought how they are to go. Lord Markland
must come first, after the relations."

"Why? They never took much notice of us, and my father never liked him.
I don't see why he should come at all."

"Oh yes, he will come, and your dear father would have liked it. The
Warrenders have always thought a great deal of such things."

"I am a Warrender, I hope, and I don't."

"Ah, Theo, you! But you are much more like my family," she said, with a
little pressure of his arm.

This did not give him so much pleasure as it did her; for, after all,
however near a man may be to his mother's family, he generally prefers
his own, and the name which it is his to bear. They got back under the
thick shadow of the trees when the conversation came to this point, and
once more it was impressed upon both that the path was very d