'You were not at all prepared.'
'Oh no! He seems so young. And,' she added, blushing, 'I cannot tell, but I should not have thought his ways were like the kind of thing.'
'Nor I, and the less since Clara has been here.'
'Oh,' said Mary, without a shade on her calm, sincere brow, 'he has Clara so much with him because he is her only friend.'
The total absence of jealousy convinced Mrs. Ponsonby that the heart could hardly have been deeply touched, but Mary continued, in a slightly trembling voice, 'I do not see why he should have done this, unless—'
'Unless that his father wished it.'
'Oh,' said Mary, somewhat disappointed, 'but how could Lord Ormersfield possibly—'
'He has an exceeding dread of Louis's making as great a mistake as he did,' said Mrs. Ponsonby; 'and perhaps he thinks you the best security.'
'And you think Louis only meant to please him?'
'My dear, I am afraid it may be so. Louis is very fond of him, and easily led by a strong character.'