She had grown very fond of the girl, and the fancy she had formed (before Sir Hastings' death) that Thaddeus was in love with the young heiress, and that she would make him a suitable wife, had not suffered in any way through the fact of Sir Thaddeus having now become the head of the family.
Perpetua, having idly plucked a few last pansies, looked at them, and as idly flung them away, goes on her listless way through the gardens.

A whole _long_ month, and not one word from him! Are his social duties now so numerous that he has forgotten he has a ward?
"Well," emphatically, and with a vicious little tug at her big white hat, _"some_ people have strange views about duty." She has almost reached the summer-house, vine-clad, and temptingly cool in all this heat, when a quick step behind her causes her to turn.
"They told me you were here," says the professor, coming up with her.

He is so distinctly the professor still, in spite of his new mourning, and the better cut of his clothes, and the general air of having been severely looked after--that Perpetua feels at home with him at once.
"I have been here for some time," says she calmly.

"A whole month, isn't it ?" "Yes, I know.

Were you going into that green little place.