'
'Certainly it ought,' said the Duke.
'I do not think he is an idle man.' To this the Duke made no
answer. He did not wish to be made to talk about Tregear. 'May I
tell you why I say all this?' she asked softly, pressing her hand
on the Duke's arm every so gently. To this the Duke assented, but
still coldly. 'Because I want to know what I ought to do. Would
you mind reading that letter? Of course you will remember that
Frank and I have been brought up almost as brother and sister.'
The Duke took the letter in his hand and read it, very slowly.
'What he says about young men without means going into Parliament
is true enough.' This was not encouraging, but as the Duke went
on reading, Mabel did not think it necessary to argue the matter.
He had to read the last paragraph twice before he understood it.
He did read it twice, and then folding the letter very slowly gave
it back to his companion.
'What ought I to do?' asked Lady Mabel.
'As you and I, my dear, are friends, I think that any carrying of
a message to Mary would be breaking confidence.
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