He had not actually
explained to himself why, but he knew that he wished to be alone with
her. At present there was no prospect of any such five minutes, but he
must say something in preparation for some future five minutes at a time
to come. Perhaps it might be to-morrow, though he did not at present see
how that might be possible, for Mrs. Mountjoy, he knew, would shut her
door against him. And Mrs. Mountjoy was already prowling round the room
after her daughter. Harry saw her as he got Florence to an opposite
door, and there for the moment escaped with her. "And now," he said,
"how am I to manage to see you before you go to Brussels?"
"I do not know that you can see me."
"Do you mean that you are to be shut up, and that I am not to be allowed
to approach you?"
"I do mean it. Mamma is, of course, attached to her nephew."
"What, after all that has passed?"
"Why not? Is he to blame for what his father has done?" Harry felt that
he could not press the case against Captain Scarborough without some
want of generosity. And though he had told Florence once about that
dreadful midnight meeting, he could say nothing farther on that subject.
"Of course mamma thinks that I am foolish."
"But why?" he asked.
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