“I wonder if he would still love her if they met. She is beautiful now, which she certainly was not then; but she is not quite the Grace he knew—”
Was she not? Before another twelvemonth had passed, Mrs. Hartley knew of what stuff Grace was made.
“I shall at once write to Mr. Riley, and tell him his presence is urgently required in Ireland.”
“But what a pity it seems to do so, when he is getting on so well in India!”
“If he finds affairs in Ireland are able to go on without him, he can return to India; I will arrange all that.”
“But it would be dangerous to wait for his return before making any move in the matter,” suggested Mrs. Hartley.
“I shall not wait for anything or person,” was the reply; “I shall ascertain if the statement be true—no reflection intended, Miss Moffat, on your sagacity; this can be done through the General’s lawyers.”
“And then?” suggested Mrs. Hartley.
“Then I shall begin to be perplexed. I do not suppose, if the interest were regularly settled, there would be any necessity to pay off the mortgage, but still I think it will have to be paid off, and if so, where is the money to come from? It is not given to every one to command capital as Mr. Brady seems able to do. I have been buying an estate lately in one of the midland counties, and it has made me very short—very short indeed. But bless me! to think of Brady aspiring to Woodbrook! No matter at what sacrifice, that must be prevented. A place I would gladly own myself.”
“All my money is invested,” said Mrs. Hartley. “I am afraid I could not realize any considerable sum for a long time.”