But, as the reader will have surmised, she had ideas of her own of emancipating herself from Baldock thraldom.
Twice before that last terrible affair at Newmarket, before the quarrel between the father and the son had been complete, Lord Brentford had said a word to his daughter,--merely a word,--of his son in connection with Miss Effingham.
"If he thinks of it I shall be glad to see him on the subject.

You may tell him so." That had been the first word.

He had just then resolved that the affair in Paris should be regarded as condoned,--as among the things to be forgotten.

"She is too good for him; but if he asks her let him tell her everything." That had been the second word, and had been spoken immediately subsequent to a payment of twelve thousand pounds made by the Earl towards the settlement of certain Doncaster accounts.

Lady Laura in negotiating for the money had been very eloquent in describing some honest,--or shall we say chivalric,--sacrifice which had brought her brother into this special difficulty.