No doubt the "county," as Raeburn himself knew, in some detail, were disposed to leave Mellor Park severely alone.

What of that?
Was it for nothing that the Maxwells had been for generations at the head of the "county," i.e.of that circle of neighbouring families connected by the ties of ancestral friendship, or of intermarriage, on whom in this purely agricultural and rural district the social pleasure and comfort of Miss Boyce and her mother must depend?
He, like Marcella, did not believe that Richard Boyce's offences were of the quite unpardonable order; although, owing to a certain absent and preoccupied temper, he had never yet taken the trouble to enquire into them in detail.

As to any real restoration of cordiality between the owner of Mellor and his father's old friends and connections, that of course was not to be looked for; but there should be decent social recognition, and--in the case of Mrs.Boyce and her daughter--there should be homage and warm welcome, simply because she wished it, and it was absurd she should not have it! Raeburn, whose mind was ordinarily destitute of the most elementary capacity for social intrigue, began to plot in detail how it should be done.

He relied first upon winning his grandfather--his popular distinguished grandfather, whose lightest word had weight in Brookshire.

And then, he himself had two or three women friends in the county--not more, for women had not occupied much place in his thoughts till now.