"He does do that, I know: but that's nothing, my dear, to swilling all day; and everything can't be done at once, can it, Miss Thorne ?" On this subject Mary found her tongue loosened.

She could not talk about Frank Gresham, but she could speak with hope to the mother of her only son.

She could say that Sir Louis was still very young; that there was reason to trust that he might now reform; that his present conduct was apparently good; and that he appeared capable of better things.

So much she did say; and the mother took her sympathy for more than it was worth.
On this matter, and on this matter perhaps alone, Sir Louis and Lady Scatcherd were in accord.

There was much to recommend Mary to the baronet; not only did he see her to be beautiful, and perceive her to be attractive and ladylike; but she was also the niece of the man who, for the present, held the purse-strings of his wealth.