Only one reason would have been strong enough to keep him--his father's unfitness for travel; and that could not fairly be urged, for Mr.Leigh was actually in better health than he had been for years, and would not himself listen to a word on the subject.
Just before the visitors left, Maurice found an opportunity of asking Mrs.Bellairs one of his "thousand questions." "Mr.Strafford, of Moose Island, was Mrs.Costello's great adviser, does not he know ?" "No; I wrote to him, and got his answer this morning.

He only knew they would probably stay some time in France." She was just going out to get into the sleigh as she spoke.

Suddenly with her foot on the step she stopped, "Stay! I have the address of a friend, a cousin, I think, of Mrs.
Costello's in England.

Mr.Strafford sent it to me." "Thanks, thanks.

I shall see you in the morning." Maurice went back joyfully into the house.