like; that is, as far as the pluck of it goes. Of course he can't like it. Who can?'
'Perry, your grandfather likes it; and surely he has a right to please himself.'
'I don't know about that. You might say the same thing if he wanted to kill all the foxes about the place, or do any other outlandish thing. Of course he might kill them, as far as the law goes, but where would he be afterwards? She hasn't said anything to him, has she?'
'I think not.'
'Nor to you?'
'No; she has not spoken to me; not about that.'
'She promised me positively that she would break it off.'
'You must not be hard on her, Perry.'
Just as these words were spoken, there came a low knock at Mrs. Orme's dressing-room door. This room, in which Mrs. Orme was wont to sit for an hour or so every night before she went to bed, was the scene of all the meetings of affection which took place between the mother and the son. It was a pretty little apartment, opening from Mrs. Orme's bed-room, which had at one time been the exclusive property of Peregrine's father. But by degrees it had altogether assumed feminine attributes; had been furnished with soft chairs, a sofa, and a lady's table; and though called by the name of Mrs. Orme's dressing-room, was in fact a separate sitting-room devoted to her exclusive use. Sir Peregrine would not for worlds have entered it without sending up his name beforehand, and this he did on only very rare occasions. But Lady Mason had of late been admitted here, and Mrs. Orme now knew that it was her knock.
'Open the door, Perry,' she said; 'it is Lady Mason.' He did open the door, and Lady Mason entered.
'Oh, Mr. Orme, I did not know that you were here.'
'I am just off. Good night, mother.'
'But I am disturbing you.'
'No, we had done;' and he stooped down and kissed his mother. 'Good night, Lady Mason. Hadn't I better put some coals on for you, or the fire will be out?' He did put on the coals, and then he went his way.
Lady Mason while he was doing this had sat down on the sofa, close to Mrs. Orme; but when the door was closed Mrs. Orme was the first to speak. 'Well, dear,' she said, putting her hand caressingly on the other's arm. I am inclined to think that had there been no one whom Mrs. Orme was bound to consult but herself, she would have wished that this marriage should have gone on. To her it would have been altogether pleasant to have had Lady Mason ever with her in the house; and she had none of those fears as
