She slept upon it, and the next day she asked her mother a few questions.  ‘Mamma, have you any idea what papa means to do?’

‘In what way, my dear?’ Lady Pomona’s voice was not gracious, as she was free from that fear of her daughter’s ascendancy which had formerly affected her.

‘Well;—­I suppose he must have some plan.’

’You must explain yourself.  I don’t know why he should have any particular plan.’

‘Will he go to London next year?’

‘That depends upon money, I suppose.  What makes you ask?’

’Of course I have been very cruelly circumstanced.  Everybody must see that.  I’m sure you do, mamma.  The long and short of it is this;—­if...