'I am very glad to hear it, my lady,' answered Steadman, without the
faintest indication of surprise.
'Why are you so--particularly glad?' asked his mistress, looking at him
sharply.
'Because Lady Mary's presence in this house is a source of danger
to--your arrangements. She is very energetic and enterprising--very
shrewd--and--well, she is a woman--so I suppose there can be no harm in
saying she is somewhat inquisitive. Things will be much safer here when
Lady Mary is gone!'
'But she will not be gone--she is not going away--except for a very
brief honeymoon. I cannot possibly do without her. She has become
necessary to my life, Steadman; and there is so little left of that life
now, that there is no need for me to sacrifice the last gleams of
sunshine. The girl is very sweet, and loving, and true. I was not half
fond enough of her in the past; but she has made herself very dear to me
of late. There are many things in this life, Steadman, which we only
find out too late.'
'But, surely, my lady, Lady Mary will leave Fellside to go to a home of
her own after her marriage.
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