“I did meet someone. At first I took him for a gamekeeper. But he turned out to be Lord Mount Dunstan.”
Lady Anstruthers gasped.
“What did he do?” she exclaimed. “Did he look angry at seeing a stranger? They say he is so ill-tempered and rude.”
“I should feel ill-tempered if I were in his place,” said Betty. “He has enough to rouse his evil passions and make him savage. What a fate for a man with any sense and decency of feeling! What fools and criminals the last generation of his house must have produced! I wonder how such things evolve themselves. But he is different—different. One can see it. If he had a chance—just half a chance—he would build it all up again. And I don't mean merely the place, but all that one means when one says 'his house.'”
“He would need a great deal of money,” sighed Lady Anstruthers.
Betty nodded slowly as she looked out, reflecting, into the park.
“Yes, it would require money,” was her admission.
“And he has none,” Lady Anstruthers added. “None whatever.”
“He will get some,” said Betty, still reflecting. “He will make it, or dig it up, or someone will leave it to him. There is a great deal of money in the world, and when a strong creature ought to have some of it he gets it.”
“Oh, Betty!” said Rosy. “Oh, Betty!”