Mr. Wylder went and dined with sir Wilton and lady Ann. The latter did her poor best to please him and was successful. It had always been an annoyance to Mr. Wylder that his wife was not a lady. In the bush he did not feel it, but now he saw the many ways she was inferior. It consoled him to hear lady Ann praise his daughter, her beauty, her manners, her wit—praise her for everything. She hinted that it would be of the greatest benefit to Barbara to have the next season in London. The girl had met nobody and might, in her innocence, being such an eager and warm-hearted creature, with her powers of discrimination but little cultivated, make unsuitable friendships that would lead to entanglement.

On the other hand, well chaperoned, she might well become one of the first ladies in the county. She took care to let Barbara’s father know—or think he knew—that, although her son would be only a baronet, he would be rich, for the estates were in excellent condition and free of encumbrance. There was, she hinted, a fine chance of enlarging the property, neighbouring land being on the market at a low price.

Mr. Wylder had indeed hoped for a higher match, but lady Ann, being an earl’s daughter, had influence with him. The remaining twin was so delicate that it was very doubtful he would live long enough to succeed to Wylder Hall. If he did not, and land could be bought to connect the two properties of Mortgrange and Wylder, the estate would be far the finest in the county, when, as lady Ann implied, means might be used to draw down the favour of Providence in the form of a patent of nobility.

To lady Ann, London was the center of courtship. Arthur, she said to herself, would show himself to better advantage there than in the country. The place where she had been nearest to falling in love herself was a ballroom—the heat had apparently half-thawed her.

Mr. Wylder thought lady Ann was right, and the best thing for Barbara would be to go to London. Lady Ann would accompany her, and she would doubtless be the belle of the season. Her chance would be none the worse of making a better match than Arthur Lestrange. Who could tell whom she might meet?

It may seem odd that no similar reflection occurred to lady Ann. Far more eligible men than her son might well be drawn to such a bit of sunshine as Barbara. But what in Barbara was most attractive, lady Ann was least capable of appreciating.

28. London

— Twenty-Eight —

London

Richard got out of his third-class carriage into the first of the London fogs of the fall season. He took his case in one hand and his bag of tools in the other, and went out to look for an omnibus.