"Mr.Smithson, I am sorry I have been detaining you so long, but I think these are the letters you wished to see." If her ladyship thought by this speech to quench Mr.Smithson she was mistaken.

Mr.Smithson just looked at the letters, and went on with the old subject.
"Now, my lady, it struck me that if you had such a man to take poor Horner's place, he would work the rents and the land round most satisfactorily.

I should not despair of inducing this very man to undertake the work.

I should not mind speaking to him myself on the subject, for we got capital friends over a snack of luncheon that he asked me to share with him." Lady Ludlow fixed her eyes on Mr.Smithson as he spoke, and never took them off his face until he had ended.

She was silent a minute before she answered.
"You are very good, Mr.Smithson, but I need not trouble you with any such arrangements.