‘And if I like Bradstane, and wish to remain at Thorsgarth, in spite of this dulness, and in spite of what Otho does?’
He shrugged his shoulders.
‘Of course, in that case. There are compensations sometimes, which go a long way towards repaying a little dulness and solitude. Every one to his taste. If that is yours, I may as well proceed to tell you that my advice to you would be to prepare for reverses.’
‘Reverses?’
‘Yes. Racing, and the sort of horse-dealing in which Otho indulges—never to mention a dozen other expensive little trifles that he likes, are not profitable occupations, and he has not found them so. I speak plainly. You may live to see very evil days at Thorsgarth, if you choose to remain here. You may live to see Otho reduced to poverty, and, if your feelings are easily worked upon, your own fortune in danger—that is, if you should let yourself be deluded into the idea that you can help him out of his difficulties, and set him on his legs again.’
‘I think I could meet reverses, if they came, without too much lamenting.’
‘In addition to which he may at any time get married to your favourite, Magdalen Wynter, and request you to find another home.’
‘I have a house of my own, and I should not wait to be asked to go.’
‘Oh, you mean the Dower House—a nice old house, that. It stands quite near to my own old home, the Red Gables.’
‘Yes. I have thought sometimes it would be a pleasant house to live in, as——’