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Archer frowned "I beg your pardon, sir; but just because of the prospective relationship, I should prefer your consulting Mr Skipworth or Mr Redwood"

Mr Letterblair looked surprised and slightly offended It was unusual for a junior to reject such an opening

He bowed "I respect your scruple, sir; but in this case I believe true delicacy requires you to do as I ask Indeed, the suggestion is not ott's and her son's I have seen Lovell Mingott; and also Mr Welland They all na He had been soht, and letting May's fair looks and radiant nature obliterate the rather iott claiott's roused hiht to exact from a prospective son-in-law; and he chafed at the role

"Her uncles ought to deal with this," he said

"They have The one into by the family They are opposed to the Countess's idea; but she is fir man was silent: he had not opened the packet in his hand

"Does she want to ain?"

"I believe it is suggested; but she denies it"

"Then--"

"Will you oblige h these papers? Afterward, e have talked the case over, I will give you my opinion"

Archer withdrew reluctantly with the unwelco he had half-unconsciously collaborated with events in ridding himself of the burden of Madaht had drawn them into a momentary intimacy on which the Duke of St Austrey's intrusion with Mrs Le of them, had rather providentially broken

Two days later Archer had assisted at the comedy of her reinstatement in the van der Luydens' favour, and had said to himself, with a touch of tartness, that a lady who kne to thank all-powerful elderly gentleood purpose for a bunch of flowers did not need either the private consolations or the public cha ht sily furbished up all the dim domestic virtues He could not picture May Welland, in whatever conceivable e her confidences on strange men; and she had never seemed to him finer or fairer than in the week that followed He had even yielded to her wish for a long engage answer to his plea for haste