to do about this house. Dear, good old woman! I know she would have
wished that I should keep it in my own hands, with some idea of living
here at some future time but of course I shall never live here.'

'Why not?'

'Would you like it yourself?'

'I am not Member of Parliament for Perivale, and should not be the
leading person in the town. You would be a sort of king here; and then,
some day, you will have your mother's property as well as your aunt's;
and you would be near to your own tenants.'

'But that does not answer my question. Could you bring yourself to live
here even if it were your own?'

'Why not?'

'Because it is so deadly dull because it has no attraction whatever
because of all lives it is the one you would like the least. No one
should live in a provincial town but they who make their money by doing
so.'

'And what are the wives and daughters of such people to do and
especially their widows? I have no doubt I could live here very happily
if I had anybody near me that I liked. I should not wish to have to
depend altogether on Mr Possitt for society.'

'And you would find him about the best.'