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All matters were prepared for Tressilian's second departure, within twenty-four hours after he had returned to Lidcote Hall; but one material circumstance had been forgotten, which was first called to the remembrance of Tressilian by Master Mumblazen.
To prosecute a suit at court, ready money was as indispensable even in the golden days of Elizabeth as at any succeeding period; and it was a commodity little at the command of the inhabitants of Lidcote Hall.
Lidcote's daughter and her friends: their Coras, Matties and Mabels seemed at any moment likely to reveal familiar patronymics, and once one of the speakers, summing up a discussion of which Mrs. Lidcote had missed the beginning, had affirmed with headlong confidence: "Leila? Oh, Leila's all right." Could it be her Leila, the mother had wondered, with a sharp thrill of apprehension?
"Not strangers to me, darling, since they're friends of yours," her mother had assured her. "Yes; but I know your feeling, you queer wild mother. I know how you've always hated people." But you didn't really mind them at luncheon, did you, dearest?" Mrs. Lidcote, at that, had suddenly thrown a startled look at her daughter. "I don't mind things of that kind any longer," she had simply answered.
Ah me! the flower and blossom of your house, The wind hath blown away to other towers. The ancient seat of Lidcote Hall was situated near the village of the same name, and adjoined the wild and extensive forest of Exmoor, plentifully stocked with game, in which some ancient rights belonging to the Robsart family entitled Sir Hugh to pursue his favourite amusement of the chase.
Oughtn't we to dress for dinner?" Miss Suffern, at the suggestion, stood up also, an agitated hand among her bugles. "I do wish I could persuade you to stay up here this evening. I'm sure Leila'd be happier if you would. Really, you're much too tired to come down." "What nonsense, Susy!" Mrs. Lidcote spoke with a sudden sharpness, her hand stretched to the bell. "When do we dine?
She's in despair at not giving you a sitting-room; she wanted to know if I thought you really minded." "Of course I don't mind. It's not like Leila to think I should." Mrs. Lidcote drew aside to make way for the housemaid, who appeared in the doorway bearing a table spread with a bewildering variety of tea-cakes. "Leila saw to it herself," Miss Suffern murmured as the door closed.
Miss Suffern enthusiastically appended: "I do think inviting Harriet Fresbie was a stroke of genius!" "Oh, we'll be with you soon," Leila laughed. "So soon that it's really foolish to separate." But Mrs. Lidcote held out with the quiet firmness which her daughter knew it was useless to oppose.
"But that doesn't console me for having exposed you to the bother of it, for having let you come here when I ought to have ordered you off to Ridgefield with Susy. If Susy hadn't been stupid she'd have made you go there with her. I hate to think of you up here all alone." Again Mrs. Lidcote tried to read something more than a rather obtuse devotion in her daughter's radiant gaze.
Lidcote most, that gave her at once the deepest feeling of security for Leila and the strongest sense of apprehension for herself. Yes, there was something oppressive in the completeness and compactness of Leila's well-being. Ide had been right: her daughter did not need her.
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