Her grandson did not tell her all the story, but
explained to her that Lawrence Twentyman, though not poor, had
other plans of life and thought of leaving the neighbourhood. She,
of course, had the money; and as she believed that land was the one
proper possession for an English gentleman of ancient family, she
doubtless would have been willing to buy it had she approved of the
hands into which it would fall. It seemed to him that it was her
duty to do as much for the estate with which all her fortune had
been concerned. "Yes," she said; "it should be bought,--if other
things suited. We will talk of it to-morrow, John." Then he spoke
of his mission to Patagonia and of his regret that it should be
abandoned. Even were he ever to be well again his strength would
return to him too late for this purpose. He had already made known
to the Foreign Office his inability to undertake that service. But
she could perceive that he had not in truth abandoned his hopes of
living, for he spoke much of his ambition as to the public service.
The more he thought of it, he said, the more certain he became that
it would suit him better to go on with his profession than to live
the life of a country squire in England. And yet she could see the
change which had taken place since she was last there and was aware
that he was fading away from day to day.
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