'Ah! he was wrong there,' said the baronet. 'When a man has held land so long it should not be taken away from him except under pressing circumstances; that is if he pays his rent.'
'Mr. Dockwrath did pay his rent, certainly; and now, I fear, he is determined to do all he can to injure us.'
'But what injury can Mr. Dockwrath do you?'
'I do not know; but he has gone down to Yorkshire,—to Mr. Mason's place; I know that; and he was searching through some papers of old Mr. Usbech's before he went. Indeed, I may say that I know as a fact that he has gone to Mr. Mason with the hope that these law proceedings may be brought on again.'
'You know it as a fact?'
'I think I may say so.'
'But, dear Lady Mason, may I ask you how you know this as a fact?'
'His wife was with me yesterday,' she said, with some feeling of shame as she disclosed the source from whence she had obtained her information.
'And did she tell the tale against her own husband?'
'Not as meaning to say anything against him, Sir Peregrine; you must not think so badly of her as that; nor must you think that I would willingly obtain information in such a manner. But you must understand that I have always been her friend; and when she found that Mr. Dockwrath had left home on a matter in which I am so nearly concerned, I cannot but think it natural that she should lot me know.'
To this Sir Peregrine made no direct answer. He could not quite say that he thought it was natural, nor could he give any expressed approval of any such intercourse between Lady Mason and the attorney's wife. He thought it would be better that Mr. Dockwrath should be allowed to do his worst, if he had any intention of doing evil, and that Lady Mason should pass it by without condescending to notice the circumstance. But he made allowances for her weakness, and did not give utterance to his disapproval in words.
'I know you think that I have done wrong,' she then said, appealing to him; and there was a tone of sorrow in her voice which went to his heart.
'No, not wrong; I cannot say that you have done wrong. It may be a question whether you have done wisely.'
'Ah! if you only condemn my folly, I will not despair. It is probable I may not have done wisely, seeing that I had not you to direct me. But what shall I do now? Oh, Sir Peregrine, say that you will not desert me if all this trouble is coming on me again!'
'No, I will not desert you, Lady Mason; you may be sure of that.'
'Dearest friend!'
'But I would advise you to take no notice whatever of Mr.
