'Then your mind is made up,' she said; 'you are quite right to decide
on having a profession; but how does your father take it?'

'He is quite convinced that to repeat my uncle's life, dangling on as
heir, would be the most fatal mistake.'

'Assuredly, and all the legal knowledge you acquire is so much in
favour of your usefulness as the squire.'

'If I ever am the squire, of which I have my doubts.'

'You expect Mr. Egremont to marry?'

'Not a future marriage, but one in the past.'

'A private marriage! Do you suspect it?'

'I don't suspect it--I know it. I have been hoping to talk the
matter over with you. Do you remember our first governess, Miss
Headworth?'

'My dear Mark, did I not lose at Pera the charms of your infancy?'

'Then neither my mother nor my grandmother ever wrote to you about
her?'

'I do remember that it struck me that immunity from governesses was a
compensation for the lack of daughters.'

'Can you tell me no details,' said Mark anxiously. 'Have you no