"I've got the leave," he answered.
I looked a question at them both, and Mayhew answered it, with a self-conscious smile of forced indifference. "I'm going for a week or two to London, Ferdinand. I've been a bit overdoing it here."
"Overdoing what, Silas?"
"Work, of course; and as you're all going——"
"It's my doing, Lord Glisfoyle," said Mrs. Curwen. "I hate travelling without someone to look after things; and when we do go I know you will be too much occupied under the circumstances to attend to us, so I told Mr. Mayhew he ought to get leave and come with us."
"I hope with all my heart he'll never come back," I said, very earnestly; and Mercy smiled.
"Not come back? Why?" he asked.
"Because I hope you'll find a sphere in London that will keep you there."
"My dear fellow, a mill-horse like me has no influence."
"What leave will you have?"