'
And upon this jibe he laughed, not coldly and sarcastically, as was his
wont, but, I thought, flurriedly. And, continuing to look into his papers,
he said, his back still toward me as he read--
'And he did not favour you with an exposition of his meaning, which, except
in so far as it estimated his deserts at the modest sum you have
named, appears to me too oracular to be interpreted without a kindred
inspiration?'
And again he laughed. He was growing more like himself.
'As to your visiting your cousin, Lady Knollys, the stupid rogue had only
five minutes before heard me express my wish that you should do so before
leaving this. I am quite resolved you shall--that is, unless, dear Maud,
you should yourself object; but, of course, we must wait for an invitation,
which, I conjecture, will not be long in coming. In fact, your letter
will naturally bring it about, and, I trust, open the way to a permanent
residence with her. The more I think it over, the more am I convinced, dear
niece, that as things are likely to turn out, my roof would be no desirable
shelter for you; and that, under all circumstances, hers would.
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