‘It is a serious question,’ continued the solicitor, ‘and I own that I think it would be better for both if she were induced to release him.’
‘Has she no relations of her own?’
‘None that I ever heard of. She has always spent her holidays at Miss Lang’s.’
‘Well, Mr. Burford,’ exclaimed Freda, ‘I think you are frightfully cruel to my poor little Creep-mouse.’
‘Nay, Freda,’ said her mother; ‘all that Mr. Burford is considering is whether it would be for the happiness or welfare of either to be raised to a position for which she is not prepared.’
‘I thought you were on her side, mother.’
‘There are no sides, Freda,’ said her father reprovingly. ‘The whole must rest with the persons chiefly concerned, and no one ought to interfere or influence them in either direction.’ Having thus rebuked Mr. Burford quite as much as his daughter, he added, ‘Where is Lord Northmoor now?’
‘He wrote to me from Northmoor after the funeral, Sir Edward, saying that he would return on Saturday. Of course, though three months’ notice would be due, I should not expect it, as I told him at first; but he assures me that he will not leave me till my arrangements for supplying his place are complete, and he will assist me as usual.’
‘It is very proper of him,’ said Sir Edward.
‘It will be awkward in some ways,’ said Mr. Burford. ‘Yet I do not know what I could otherwise have done, he had become so necessary to me.’