Staveley. Miss Furnival was a lady who on such subjects did not want the assistance of a mother's counsel. Then, early on the morning that followed the trial, they heard the verdict and knew that Lady Manon was free.
'I am so glad,' said Mrs. Furnival; 'and I am sure it was your papa's doing.'
'But we will hope that she was really innocent,' said Sophia.
'Oh, yes; of course; and so I suppose she was. I am sure I hope so. But, nevertheless, we all know that it was going very much against her.'
'I believe papa never thought she was guilty for a moment.'
'I don't know, my dear; your papa never talks of the clients for whom he is engaged. But what a thing it is for Lucius! He would have lost every acre of the property.'
'Yes; it's a great thing for him, certainly.' And then she began to consider whether the standing held by Lucius Mason in the world was not even yet somewhat precarious.
It was on the same day—in the evening—that she received her lover's letter. She was alone when she read it, and she made herself quite master of its contents before she sat herself to think in what way it would be expedient that she should act. 'I am bound to relinquish to my brother-in-law my title to Orley Farm.' Why should he be so bound, unless—? And then she also came to that conclusion which Mr. Round had reached, and which Joseph Mason had reached, when they heard that the property was to be given up. 'Yes, Sophia, I am a beggar,' the letter went on to say. She was very sorry, deeply sorry;—so, at least, she said to herself. As she sat there alone, she took out her handkerchief and pressed it to her eyes. Then, having restored it to her pocket, after moderate use, she refolded her letter, and put that into the same receptacle.
'Papa,' said she, that evening, 'what will Mr. Lucius Mason do now? will he remain at Orley Farm?'
'No, my dear. He will leave Orley Farm, and, I think, will go abroad with his mother.'
'And who will have Orley Farm?'
'His brother Joseph, I believe.'
'And what will Lucius have?'
'I cannot say. I do not know that he will have anything. His mother has an income of her own, and he, I suppose, will go into some profession.'
'Oh, indeed. Is not that very sad for him, poor fellow?' In answer to which her father made no remark.
That night, in her own room, she answered her lover's letter, and her answer was as follows:—
