At least five minutes passed in silence. And then Lucy raised her eyes
to his.
"Was it a joke, what you said to John Massingbird--about leaving
Deerham?"
"It was sober earnest, Lucy. I shall go as soon as I possibly can now."
"But why?" she presently asked.
"I should have left, as you heard me say, after Mrs. Verner's death, but
for one or two considerations. Decima very much wished me to remain
until her marriage; and--I did not see my way particularly clear to
embark in a new course of life. I do not see it yet."
"Why should you go?" asked Lucy.
"Because I--because it is expedient that I should, for many reasons," he
answered.
"You do not like to remain subservient to John Massingbird?"
"It is not that. I have got over that. My prospects have been so utterly
blighted, Lucy, that I think some of the old pride of the Verner race
has gone out of me. I do not see a chance of getting anything to do half
as good as this stewardship--as he but now called it--under John
Massingbird. But I shall try at it."
"What shall you try, do you think?"
"I cannot tell.
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