“Now it is all very well for you to show your mettle,” Lavendar went on, “for you to endure your aunt’s displeasure rather than give up a cause you know to be just; but look where it lands us.”
Robinette raised her troubled eyes to Lavendar’s, giving a sigh to show she realized that her landing-place would be wherever the lawyer fixed it, not where she wished it.
“Go on,” she sighed patiently.
“Your legal adviser regards it as impossible that you should come over from America and quarrel with your mother’s family;––your only family, in point of fact. If this affair is fought to a finish you will feel like leaving your aunt’s house.”
“I shouldn’t have to wait for that feeling,” said Robinette irrepressibly. “Aunt de Tracy would have it first!”
“In such an event I could and would stand by you, naturally.”
“Would you?” cried Robinette glowing instantly like a jewel.
Lavendar looked at her in amazement. “Pray what do you take me for? On whose side could I, should I be, my dear––my dear Mrs. Loring? But to keep to business. In the event stated above, neither my father nor I could very well continue to have charge of the estate. That is a small matter, but increases the difficulties, owing to a long friendship dating back to the Admiral’s time. 258 Then we have Carnaby. Carnaby, my dear Mrs. Loring, belongs to you. Do you want to give him up? He adores you and you will have an unbounded influence on him, if you choose to exercise it.”
“How can I influence Carnaby––in America?”