“Yes,” again assented Eleonora.
“And do you know why?”
“You said it was for the sake of the old home and my father!” said the girl, with a bitter emphasis on the said.
“So it was! It was to give you the chance of redeeming it, and keeping it in the family. It is to be sold, you know, as soon as you are of age, and can give your consent. I can’t buy it. Mine is only a jointure, a life income, and you know that you might as well think of Mary buying Golconda; but you—you—with such beauty as yours—might easily make a connection that would save it.”
There was only a choked sound.
“I know you feel the situation painfully, after having been mistress so long.”
“Camilla, you know it is not that!”
“Ah, my dear, I can see farther than you avow. You can’t marry till you are twenty-one, you know; but you might be very soon engaged, and then we should see our way. It only depends on yourself. Plenty of means, and no land to tie him down, ready to purchase and to settle down. It would be the very thing; and I see you are a thoroughly sensible girl, Lena.”
“Indeed! I am not even sensible enough to know who is to be this purchaser.”
“Come, Lena, don’t be affected. Why! he was the only poor creature you were moderately gracious to.”