'"I don't know," replied Agnes, looking uneasily in the direction of Lady Mountfort; "she is so very particular. Perhaps I ought not to have told you all this, Frances."
'"I am very glad you have. Oliver and I have so often wanted to know something about Algernon, but mamma could not tell us much; and we never think of asking my father any questions."
'"What has Agnes been telling you?" asked Lord Desmond, who at that moment joined us with Oliver.
'"About New Court," interposed Agnes hastily, apparently afraid I should relate the whole of our conversation. "I was telling Frances how very, very strict my aunt is, and how quiet we are obliged to be in her presence. I am sure school is almost better, if it were not for the lessons."
'"Ah!" said Algernon with a heartfelt sigh, "I shall think it duller than ever, now I have been here. Only imagine, Agnes: they go out with the hounds once or twice a week here, with a groom who lets them do whatever they like! Why, when I go out riding at home, or whatever I do, there is always Master Hewling, with his starched countenance and croaking voice, saying, 'It is not fitting, my lord, that you should do this,' or, 'My duty to Sir Harry will not permit me to allow your lordship to do the other!' I have never been allowed to do what I liked since I came to Sir Harry's house—never!"
'"But I thought," said I with some dismay, remembering the brilliant castles in the air which Oliver and I had indulged in,—"I thought you had a fine house of your very own, with beautiful gardens, and park, and fishponds, and great stables as big as our whole house. That is what nurse told me!"
'"Ah!" said Algernon, looking so sad that I was quite sorry I had said anything about it, "that was where we lived when my father was alive. But it is of no use, for Sir Harry says I have not money enough to live there; and besides, it is sold—no, not sold—what is the word?—to somebody else."
'"Oh, but I heard something!" said Agnes, and then she stopped short and coloured, while we all looked very much interested.
'"Well, what did you hear?" asked Algernon eagerly. "I will know, Agnes."
'"I don't think I ought to tell," she said, faltering and looking very irresolute.