"My reason is that I shall pay your mother double this sum. Unless she is very extravagant it ought to be enough to defray her expenses."
"How liberal you are, Mrs. Vernon!" exclaimed Dan, in fresh astonishment.
"Mrs. Vernon!"
"Aunt Harriet, I mean."
"That is better."
All these important changes in the position of the Mordaunts were unknown to their old friends, who, since their loss of property, had given them the cold shoulder.
One day Tom Carver, in passing the house, saw Dan coming down the steps quite as handsomely dressed as himself. His surprise and curiosity were aroused.
"Are you running errands?" he asked.
"No. What makes you think so?" returned Dan, smiling.
"I didn't know what else could carry you to such a house."