Lady Bellamy nodded, and left the room. She found Philip in the drawing-room.
“Ah! how do you do, Mr. Caresfoot? I come from your cousin to say that he cannot see you to-day; he has scarcely recovered sufficiently from the illness through which I have been nursing him; but of course you know all about that.”
“Oh! yes, Lady Bellamy, I have heard all about it, including your own brave behaviour, to which, the doctor tells me, George owes his life. I am sorry that he cannot see me, though. I have just come down from town, and called in on my way from Roxham. I had some rather important business that I wanted to speak about.”
“About your offer to repurchase the Isleworth lands?” she asked.
“Ah! you know of the affair. Yes, that was it.”
“Then I am commissioned to give you a reply.”
Philip listened anxiously.
“Your cousin absolutely refuses to sell any part of the lands.”
“Will nothing change his determination? I am ready to give a good price, and pay a separate valuation for the timber.”
“Nothing; he does not intend to sell.”