Ida said nothing, but leant forward and stirred the fire, which may
have caused the colour which glowed for a moment or two on her face.
"I am sure I don't know why the young man should have rushed off to the
other end of the world: or why he doesn't rush back again and marry the
lady of his heart, who has enough money for both of them, and would
make an extremely handsome and stately countess. By the way, have you
ever seen the present Lord Highcliffe, my dear?" "Yes, I have seen
him," Ida replied in the tone which closes a subject of conversation.
"Shall I give you some more tea? No? Would you like to see how the
workmen are getting on? I think they are working very quickly. They
will want this part of the house presently, and I have an idea of going
away for a time; perhaps abroad," she added, though she had put the
idea away from her until this moment, and it was only Lady Bannerdale's
talk of Maude Falconer which started it again in her mind.
Lady Bannerdale, looked alarmed.
"Oh, don't do that, my dear!" she said. "If you are obliged to turn out
of the house, why not come to us? It would be so kind and sweet of
you."
Ida sighed a little wearily.
"Oh, I don't suppose they will insist upon ejecting me," she said. "I
think I can persuade them to leave me two or three rooms."
Lady Bannerdale went home and dropped her bomb-shell in the presence of
Lord Bannerdale and Edwin.
"Ida rather thinks of going abroad," she said in a casual way at the
dinner table.
Lord Edwin was raising his wine glass to his lips, but arrested it
half-way and set it down again; and his handsome face grew long and
grave.
"Oh! We shall miss her," remarked Lord Bannerdale, lamely, and avoiding
looking in his son's direction.
Not another word was said; but the next day Lord Edwin came into Lady
Bannerdale's room with that affectation of ease and indifference which
never yet deceived a mother.
"I'm going to call on Miss Heron, mother," he said. "Any message?"
Lady Bannerdale looked at him, her brow wrinkled with motherly anxiety.
There was nothing in the world she desired more than his happiness; and
she knew that the marriage with Ida would be in every way desirable:
the girl was one in a thousand, the Bannerdale estates almost joined
Herondale; both she and her husband were fond of Ida, who, they knew,
would prove a worthy successor to the present mistress of the Grange;
but just because it seemed so desirable and Lord Edwin's heart was so
passionately set upon it, the mother was anxious. She saw that he was
dressed with extreme care, and that his face was unusually grave.