"He'll come and see you, and you must give him plenty of chances." What Lady Greyswood would have liked to be able to say, crudely and comfortably, was: "He'll try to manage it—he promises to do what he can." What she did say, however, was: "He's greatly prepossessed in the dear child's favour."
"Then I dare say he'll be very nice."
"If I didn't think he'd behave like a gentleman I wouldn't raise a finger. The more he sees of her the more he'll be sure to like her."
"Of course with poor Fanny that's the only thing one can build on," said Mrs. Knocker. "There's so much to get over."
Lady Greyswood hesitated a moment. "Maurice has got over it. But I should tell you that at first he doesn't want it known."
"Doesn't want what known?"
"Why, the footing on which he comes. You see it's just the least bit experimental."
"For what do you take me?" asked Mrs. Knocker. "The child shall never dream that anything has passed between us. No more of course shall her father."
"It's too delightful of you to leave it that way," Lady Greyswood replied. "We must surround her happiness with every safeguard."
Mrs. Knocker sat pensive for some moments. "So that if nothing comes of it there's no harm done? That idea—that nothing may come of it—makes one a little nervous," she added.