"I quite understand that," replied the listener, the corners of her lips very eloquent.
"Such a thing had never entered my mind," pursued May, volubly and with emphasis. "Never!"
"It may have entered someone else's mind, though," interposed Mrs. Toplady, again maturely arch.
"Oh, do you think so!" exclaimed the girl, with manifest pleasure. "I'm sure I hope not. But, Mrs. Toplady, how could my aunt oblige such a man as Mr. Lashmar to engage himself against his will?"
"You must remember, May, that, for the moment at all events, Mr. Lashmar's prospects seem to depend a good deal on Lady Ogram's good will. She has a great deal of local influence. And then—by the bye, is Mr. Lashmar quite easy in his circumstances?"
"I really don't know," May answered, with an anxious fold in her forehead "Surely he, too, isn't quite poor?"
"I hardly think he is wealthy. Isn't it just possible that something may depend upon the marriage—?"
Mrs. Toplady's voice died away in a considerate vagueness. But May was not at all disposed to leave the matter nebulous.
"If he is really poor," she said, in a clear-cut tone, "it's quite natural that he should want to marry someone who can help him. But why didn't he choose someone really suitable?"
"Poor Mr. Lashmar!" sighed the other, humorously. "If he had no encouragement, my dear May!"