"Surely you have not come to drag her back into exile!"
Sir John smiled. It was evident that Barbara had not entered into an explanation of her reasons for leaving the Abbey.
"No, I think she is in very good hands for the present. She appears to have many admirers."
"Can you wonder at it? She is as pretty as a picture, and when such a picture has an exceedingly heavy golden frame—"
"My dear Peggy, you hit the centre of the target with the first shaft. For most of these admirers the frame is the chief attraction. In this fact arises the difficulty of my guardianship."
"Barbara has spirit; you must not draw the rein too tightly or she will kick over the traces," said Lady Bolsover.
"Exactly, and show herself a true Lanison," said Sir John. "I propose to let the reins hang very loosely indeed. Let her have her own way. She will find it so uninteresting not to meet with any opposition that she will probably end in doing exactly as I wish."
"And to whom have you decided to marry her?"
Sir John held up his hand with his fingers apart.
"There are at least five to choose from," he said.