“I protest I cannot. It is not, surely, that she is unhappy here?”
“No, no, very far from that.”
“It cannot be ill health, for she is the very picture of the contrary.”
“No, no,” said her mother again.
“What can it be?”
“Say, rather, who?” broke in Mrs. Morris, “and I 'll tell you.”
“Who, then? Tell me by all means.”
“Mr. Layton. Yes, Sir William, this is his doing. I have remarked it many a day back. You are aware, of course, how sedulously he endeavors to make himself acceptable in another quarter?”
“What do you mean? What quarter? Surely you do not allude to my ward?”
“You certainly do not intend me to believe that you have not seen this, Sir William?”