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"Hallin will be in the river," said Marcella, irresolute. "If he is, Sir George will fish him out. Besides, I believe Sir George and Ancoats have gone for a walk, and Hallin with them. I heard Maxwell tell Hallin he might go." Marcella turned an uncertain look upon Lord Fontenoy and Mrs. Allison.
Towards the end of the lime-walk they came across Mrs. Allison and Lord Fontenoy. As they passed the older pair the pale mother lifted her eyes to her son with a tremulous smile. But Ancoats made no response, nor had he any greeting for Fontenoy.
Hence it comes that Ancoats, built chiefly since the sudden growth of manufacture, chiefly indeed within the present century, contains a vast number of ruinous houses, most of them being, in fact, in the last stages of inhabitableness.
But about a fortnight before Whitsuntide some tales of young Ancoats had suddenly reached Maxwell's ears, with such effect that on his next meeting with Ancoats's mother he practically invited himself and Marcella greatly to Mrs. Allison's surprise to Castle Luton for Whitsuntide. For the boy had been Maxwell's ward, and Henry Allison had been the intimate friend and comrade of Maxwell's father.
At every turn of the view she overflowed with praise and wonder; nor could anything have been at once more enthusiastic or more impertinent than the questions with which she plied him as to his gardeners, his estate, and his affairs, in the intervals of panegyric. Ancoats at first hardly listened to her. A perfunctory "Yes" or "No" seemed to be all that the situation demanded.
We weren't saints in my day, but we weren't in the habit of choosing well-brought-up maidens of twenty in our own set for our confidantes. You know, I suppose, what broke up the party at Castle Luton?" "Ancoats told me nothing. I have heard some gossip from Harding Watton," said George, unwillingly.
I have telegraphed to him, and expect him here before long. We know that she has not yet left London, and it may be possible again, at the eleventh hour, to stop her. But that " "Is not enough," said Tressady, quickly, raising his head. "You want someone to grapple with Ancoats?" Face and voice were those of another man attentive, normal, sympathetic. Maxwell observed him keenly.
To be virtually saddled with a stepfather, with whom your minutest affairs are confidentially discussed, and yet to have it said by all the world that your poor mother is too unselfish and too devoted to her son to marry again the situation is not without its pricks. And that Ancoats was acutely conscious of them George had good reason to know.
You know, nobody is ever converted politically nowadays." In the darkness her flush could not be seen. But he felt the mingled pride and soreness in her voice, under its forced brightness. "I know. How long is it since a speech turned a vote in the House of Commons! One wonders why people take the trouble to speak. Shall we go back? Ah! there is someone pursuing us my husband and Ancoats!"
First and foremost, Ancoats had been to no public school. It was not the custom of the family; and Mrs. Allison could not be induced to break the tradition. There was accordingly a succession of tutors, whose Church-principles at least were sound. And Ancoats showed himself for a time an impressionable, mystical boy, entirely in sympathy with his mother.
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