Pengarth declared firmly. "He left everything entirely
in my hands. He did not wish me to let it, but he did not care about
its being altogether uninhabited. The arrangement I was able to make
with your guardian was a most satisfactory one."
"But surely he will come back himself some time?" she asked,
The lawyer shook his head sorrowfully.
"I am afraid," he said, "that Sir Wingrave has no affection for the
place whatever."
"No affection for Tredowen," she repeated wonderingly. "Do you know
what I think, Mr. Pengarth? I think that it is the most beautiful
house in the world!"
"And yet you talk of leaving it."
"I don't want to go," she answered, "but I don't want to be accepting
things all my life from someone whose name even I do not know."
"Well, well," he said, "you must wait until I have written my letter.
Time enough to talk about that later on. Now, if you won't stay to
lunch, you must come and see Rachael and have some cake and a glass of
wine."
"How sweet of you," she exclaimed. "I'm frightfully hungry. Can I do
anything to stop growing, Mr. Pengarth? I'm getting taller and
taller!"
She stood up. She was head and shoulders taller than the little
lawyer, slim as a lath, and yet wonderfully graceful. She laughed down
at him and made a little grimace.
"I'm a giraffe, am I not?" she declared; "and I'm still growing. Do
show me your garden, Mr. Pengarth. I want to see your hollyhocks.
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