Sometimes they would sit in the front room with Hetta, to whom also Mr Broune had become attached; but sometimes Lady Carbury would be in her own sanctum. On this evening she received him there, and at once poured forth all her troubles about Felix. On this occasion she told him everything, and almost told him everything truly. He had already heard the story. 'The young lady went down to Liverpool, and Sir Felix was not there.'
'He could not have been there. He has been in bed in this house all day. Did she go?'
'So I am told;--and was met at the station by the senior officer of the police at Liverpool, who brought her back to London without letting her go down to the ship at all. She must have thought that her lover was on board;--probably thinks so now. I pity her.'
'How much worse it would have been, had she been allowed to start,' said Lady Carbury.
'Yes; that would have been bad. She would have had a sad journey to New York, and a sadder journey back. Has your son told you anything about money?'
'What money?'
'They say that the girl entrusted him with a large sum which she had taken from her father. If that be so he certainly ought to lose no time in restoring it. It might be done through some friend. I would do it, for that matter. If it be so,--to avoid unpleasantness,--it should be sent back at once. It will be for his credit.' This Mr Broune said with a clear intimation of the importance of his advice.
It was dreadful to Lady Carbury. She had no money to give back, nor, as she was well aware, had her son. She had heard nothing of any money. What did Mr Broune mean by a large sum? 'That would be dreadful,' she said.
'Had you not better ask him about it?'
Lady Carbury was again in tears. She knew that she could not hope to get a word of truth from her son. 'What do you mean by a large sum?'
'Two or three hundred pounds, perhaps.'
'I have not a shilling in the world, Mr Broune.' Then it all came out,--the whole story of her poverty, as it had been brought about by her son's misconduct. She told him every detail of her money affairs from the death of her husband, and his will, up to the present moment.
'He is eating you up, Lady Carbury.' Lady Carbury thought that she was nearly eaten up already, but she said nothing. 'You must put a stop to this.'