"Have you any sense at all?"
"You think I haven't; or you wouldn't treat me as you are doing--but I'm not an utter idiot."
"Then prove it, by acting on my advice. Forget all that it is better to forget; all unpleasant things are best forgotten; and, at your age, forgetting is so easy. Leave the conduct of things in more experienced hands; meaning mine. I'm pretty idle; I expect to find, in the process of putting your affairs in order, congenial amusement. A little bird whispers in my ear that I sha'n't find it nearly such a difficult job as you imagine. You don't seem to have had a very good time up to now; you shall have a better in the days which are coming; you'll find that your worries will vanish, and it will be roses, roses, all the way."
"Why should you do all this for me?--if it can be done; which I doubt."
He sighed.
"Mild remonstrance is plainly useless; you'll have to keep on whying! Did Frances Vernon know that George Emmett took you away from the convent?"
"Of course she did--besides, I told her all about it. She was there when he came--she saw us start."
"Then, in that case, I shall tell Mrs Vernon that Mr Emmett is not so well as he might be, which is a fact, and that, since, therefore, he is not able to take so much care of you as is desirable, which is, again, the fact, I have assumed the charge of you, pro tem. You understand? It may not be necessary for you to say anything--I will endeavour to make it unnecessary--but if you must, you must support my story."
"Your lie, you mean--another!"
"I hardly think that ugly word is called for. What I shall say will be the truth."