that he wouldn't have launched them at Matcham
or whatever it was he had done only for Aunt
Maud's beaux yeux. What he had done, it would
have been guessable, was something he had for some
time been desired in vain to do; and what they were
all now profiting by was a change comparatively sud
den, the cessation of hope delayed. What had
caused the cessation easily showed itself as none of
Milly's business; and she was luckily, for that mat
ter, in no real danger of hearing from him directly
that her individual weight had been felt in the scale.
Why then indeed was it an effect of his diffused but
subdued participation that he might absolutely have
been saying to her " Yes, let the dear woman take
her own tone? Since she's here she may stay," he
might have been adding " for whatever she can
make of it. But you and I are different." Milly
knew she was different in truth his own difference
was his own affair; but also she knew that, after all,
even at their distinctest, Lord Mark's " tips " in this
line would be tacit. He practically placed her it
came round again to that under no obligation
whatever. It was a matter of equal ease, moreover,
her letting Mrs. Lowder take a tone. She might
have taken twenty they would have spoiled noth
ing.

"You must stay on with us; you can, you know,
in any position you like; any, any, any, my dear
child " and her emphasis went deep. " You must
make your home with us; and it's really open to you

[[335]]

p234 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p235w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p236

v?