u will be able to
talk better if I go away."

"I don't know, my dear," said Mrs. Warrender, with a slight tremulousness.
Lady Markland did not say anything. She retained the advantage of
the position, not denying that she wished it, and Chatty accordingly,
putting down her work, went away. Mrs. Warrender felt the solemnity of
the interview more and more; but she did not know what to say.

Presently Lady Markland took the initiative. She rose and approached
nearer to Mrs. Warrender's side. "I want you to tell me," she said,
herself growing for the first time a little tremulous, "if you dislike
this very much--for Theo."

"Dislike it! oh, how can you think so? His happiness is all I desire,
and if you----"

"If I can make him happy? that is a dreadful question, Mrs. Warrender.
How can any one tell that? I hope so; but if I should deceive
myself----"

"That was not what I meant: there is no happiness for him, but that
which you can give: if you think him good enough--that was what I was
going to say."

"Good enough! Theo? Oh then, you do not know what he is, though he is
your son; and so far I am better than you are."

"Lady Markland, you are better in a great many ways. It is this that
frightens me. In some things you are so much above any pretensions of
his. He has so little experience, he is not rich, nor even is he clever
(though he is very clever) according to the ways of the world. I seem to
be disparaging my boy. It is not that, Lady Markland."

"No; do you think I don't understand? I am too old for him; I am not the
kind of woman you would have chosen, or even that he would have chosen,
had he been in his right senses."

"It is folly to say that you are old. You are not old; you are a woman
that any man might be proud to love. And his love--has been a wonder to
me to see," said his mother, her voice faltering, her eyes filling. "I
have never known such adoration as that."

"Ah, has it not!" cried the woman who was the object of it, a sudden
melting and ineffable change coming over her face. "That was what gave
me the courage," she said, after a moment's pause. "How could I refuse?
It is not often, is it, that a man--that a woman"--here her voice died
away in a confusion and agitation which melted all Mrs. Warrender's
reluctance. She found herself with her arms round the great lady,
comforting her, holding her head against her own breast. They shed some
tears together, and kissed each other, and for a m