I
think it is very much in your own hands. Of course it is not for me to
press such an arrangement, if it be not in accord with your own
wishes.'

'I look upon her as engaged to marry Paul Montague,' said Roger.

'Not at all,' said Lady Carbury.

'Yes; mamma,--yes,' cried Hetta boldly. 'It is so. I am engaged to
him.'

'I beg to let your cousin know that it is not so with my consent,--nor,
as far as I can understand at present, with the consent of Mr Montague
himself.'

'Mamma!'

'Paul Montague!' ejaculated Roger Carbury. 'The consent of Paul
Montague! I think I may take upon myself to say that there can be no
doubt as to that.'

'There has been a quarrel,' said Lady Carbury.

'Surely he has not quarrelled with you, Hetta?'

'I wrote to him,--and he has not answered me,' said Hetta piteously.

Then Lady Carbury gave a full and somewhat coloured account of what
had taken place, while Roger listened with admirable patience. 'The
marriage is on every account objectionable,' she said at last, 'His
means are precarious. His conduct with regard to that woman has been
very bad. He has been sadly mixed up with that wretched man who
destroyed himself. And now, when Henrietta has written to him without
my sanction,--in opposition to my express commands,--he takes no notice
of her. She, very properly, sent him back a present that he made her,
and no doubt he has resented her doing so. I trust that his resentment
may be continued.'

Hetta was now seated on a sofa hiding her face and weeping. Roger
stood perfectly still, listening with respectful silence till Lady
Carbury had spoken her last word. And even then he was slow to answer,
considering what he might best say. 'I think I had better see him,' he
replied. 'If, as I imagine, he has not received my cousin's letter,
that matter will be set at rest. We must not take advantage of such an
accident as that. As to his income,--that I think may be managed. His
connection with Mr Melmotte was unfortunate, but was due to no fault
of his.' At this moment he could not but remember Lady Carbury's great
anxiety to be closely connected with Melmotte, but he was too generous
to say a word on that head. 'I will see him, Lady Carbury, and then I
will come to you again.'

Lady Carbury did not dare to tell him that she did not wish him to see
Paul Montague. She knew that if he really threw himself into the scale
against her, her opposition would weigh nothing. He was too powerful