This was correct, so far as it went; but he had another reason for deciding not to resume operations for a while.  He suspected that his recent conduct had excited distrust and indignation in certain quarters, but this would, no doubt, blow over before his return.  People forgot, and he could avoid those whose confidence in him had proved expensive,

“If that’s the case, we may as well get off as soon as it can be arranged,” said Mrs. Lansing.  She turned to Sylvia.  “Of course, you will come with us.”

Sylvia hesitated.  She believed her influence over Bland would not weaken much in her absence; but, after all, it was wiser to run no risk.  Moreover, she would, to some extent, feel her separation from the man.

“I really don’t know what I ought to do,” she answered.  “I might be a restraint upon you—­you can’t want me always at hand; and I could spend a month or two with Dorothy.  She has several times told me to come.”

“You would be better with us,” Mrs. Lansing rejoined with firmness; and Sylvia suspected her of a wish to prevent her enjoying Bland’s society.

“I’ll think it over,” she said.

After they had discussed the projected journey, Mrs. Lansing withdrew on some domestic errand, and Herbert turned to Sylvia.

“I needn’t point out that you’ll be no trouble to us, but perhaps I’d better mention that I had a letter from George this post.  As there’s very little to be done until the spring, he thinks of coming over.  I don’t know how far that may affect your decision.”

Sylvia was a little startled, but she reflected rapidly.  The house of the relative she had thought of visiting would be open to George, as would be one or two others in which she might stay a while.  It was most undesirable that he should encounter Bland, which would be likely to happen.  Then it struck her that Herbert might derive as little satisfaction from his cousin’s visit as it would afford her.

“Have you succeeded in selling George’s shares yet?” she asked, and though this was, on the face of it, an abrupt change of subject, she thought Herbert would follow the sequence of ideas.

“No,” he answered, with a smile of comprehension.  “It was too late when I was able to attend to things; they have dropped to such a price that I’ll have to keep them.  I’m afraid it will be a blow to George, and he’s having trouble enough already with your farm; but, luckily, some other shares I bought on his account show signs of a marked improvement before long.”

Sylvia inferred from this that he had not informed his cousin of the state of his affairs, and did not wish to see him until the improvement mentioned, or some other favorable development, should mitigate the shock of discovering what use Herbert had made of his powers.  It was clear that it rested with her to decide whether George made the visit or not, because if she went to Egypt he would remain in Canada.  But she was not quite ready to give her companion an answer.