But how should she serve Tregear without risk of offending the Duke? She read the letter again and again, and thinking it to be a good letter she determined to show it to the Duke.
"Mr. Tregear has got in at Polpenno," she said on the day on which she and the Duke had received their letters.
"So I hear from Silverbridge."
"It will be a good thing for him, I suppose."
"I do not know," said the Duke coldly.
"He is my cousin, and I have always been interested in his welfare."
"That is natural."
"And a seat in Parliament will give him something to do."
"Certainly it ought," said the Duke.
"I do not think that he is an idle man." To this the Duke made no answer. He did not wish to be made to talk about Tregear. "May I tell you why I say all this?" she asked softly, pressing her hand on the Duke's arm ever so gently. To this the Duke assented, but still coldly. "Because I want to know what I ought to do. Would you mind reading that letter? Of course you will remember that Frank and I have been brought up almost as brother and sister."