n like Lady Markland, and a great many
responsibilities, especially when she is a sort of queen mother and has
a whole noble family to be accountable to----"

"I do not wonder that Theo should be impatient, Mr. Longstaffe; all this
must be terrible to him, in the midst of his---- Why should not they
marry first, and then these things will arrange themselves?"

"Marry first! and leave her altogether unsecured."

"I hope you know that my son is a man of honour, Mr. Longstaffe."

"My dear madam, we have nothing to do with men of honour in the law. I
felt sure that you would understand at least. Suppose we had left Miss
Minnie dependent upon the honour (though I don't doubt it at all) of the
Thynne family."

"I don't mean in respect to money," said Mrs. Warrender, with a slight
flush. "He will not interfere with her money, of that I am certain."

"No: only with herself; and she has been left the control of everything;
and she must be free to administer her son's property and look after his
interests. If you will allow me to say it, Mrs. Warrender, Lady Markland
is a much better man of business than Theo."

Mr. Longstaffe had known Theo all his life, and had never addressed him
otherwise than by that name, but it seemed an over-familiarity, a want
of respect, even a sign of contempt in the position in which Theo now
stood. She replied with a little offence:--

"That is very possible. He has had little experience, and he is a scholar,
not a person of business. But why should the marriage be delayed? This
is the worst moment for them both. I know my son, Mr. Longstaffe. All
this frets him beyond description now; but when the uncertainty is over,
and all these negotiations, everything will come round. He will never
interfere or prevent her from doing what is necessary for her son. When
they are once married all will go well."

This was a long speech for Mrs. Warrender, and she made it with
interruptions, with trepidation, not quite so sure perhaps of her own
argument as she had thought she was. The lawyer looked at her with a
kind of respectful contempt.

"There may be a certain justice in what you say, that this is the worst
moment: but I for one could never agree to anything so unbusiness-like
as you seem to suggest. Marriage first, and business afterwards--no,
no--and then there is the little boy. You would not have him sent off to
nurse while his mother goes upon her honeymoon. Poor little fellow, so
devoted as s