Townlinson, but Mr.Townlinson's father, and also his grandfather, had legally represented the Anstruthers, as well as many other families.As there seemed no necessity for any structural changes, and the work done was such as could only rescue and increase the value of the estate, could there be any objection to its being begun without delay?
Certainly an unusual young lady.It would be interesting to discover how well she knew Sir Nigel, since it seemed that only a knowledge of him--his temper, his bitter, irritable vanity, could have revealed to her the necessity of the precaution she was taking without even intimating that it was a precaution.Extraordinarily clever girl.
Mr.Townlinson wore an air of quiet, business-like reflection.
"You are aware, Miss Vanderpoel, that the present income from the estate is not such as would justify anything approaching the required expenditure?""Yes, I am aware of that.The expense would be provided for by my father.""Most generous on Mr.Vanderpoel's part," Mr.Townlinson commented."The estate would, of course, increase greatly in value."Circumstances had prevented her father from visiting Stornham, Miss Vanderpoel explained, and this had led to his being ignorant of a condition of things which he might have remedied.
She did not explain what the particular circumstances which had separated the families had been, but Mr.Townlinson thought he understood.The condition existing could be remedied now, if Messrs.Townlinson & Sheppard saw no obstacles other than scarcity of money.
Mr.Townlinson's summing up of the matter expressed in effect that he saw none.The estate had been a fine one in its day.During the last sixty years it had become much impoverished.With conservative decorum of manner, he admitted that there had not been, since Sir Nigel's marriage, sufficient reason for the neglect of dilapidations.The firm had strongly represented to Sir Nigel that certain resources should not be diverted from the proper object of restoring the property, which was entailed upon his son.The son's future should beyond all have been considered in the dispensing of his mother's fortune.
He, by this time, comprehended fully that he need restrain no dignified expression of opinion in his speech with this young lady.She had come to consult with him with as clear a view of the proprieties and discretions demanded by his position as he had himself.And yet each, before the close of the interview, understood the point of view of the other.
What he recognised was that, though she had not seen Sir Nigel since her childhood, she had in some astonishing way obtained an extraordinary insight into his character, and it was this which had led her to take her present step.She might not realise all she might have to contend with, but her conservative and formal action had surrounded her and her sister with a certain barrier of conventional protection, at once self-controlled, dignified, and astutely intelligent.
"Since, as you say, no structural changes are proposed, such as an owner might resent, and as Lady Anstruthers is the mother of the heir, and as Lady Anstruthers' father undertakes to defray all expenditure, no sane man could object to the restoration of the property.To do so would be to cause public opinion to express itself strongly against him.Such action would place him grossly in the wrong." Then he added with deliberation, realising that he was committing himself, and feeling firmly willing to do so for reasons of his own, "Sir Nigel is a man who objects strongly to putting himself --publicly--in the wrong.""Thank you," said Miss Vanderpoel.
He had said this of intention for her enlightenment, and she was aware that he had done so.
"This will not be the first time that American fortunes have restored English estates," Mr.Townlinson continued amiably."There have been many notable cases of late years.
We shall be happy to place ourselves at your disposal at all times, Miss Vanderpoel.We are obliged to you for your consideration in the matter.""Thank you," said Miss Vanderpoel again."I wished to be sure that I should not be infringing any English rule I had no knowledge of.""You will be infringing none.You have been most correct and courteous."Before she went away Mr.Townlinson felt that he had been greatly enlightened as to what a young lady might know and be.She gave him singularly clear details as to what was proposed.There was so much to be done that he found himself opening his eyes slightly once or twice.But, of course, if Mr.Vanderpoel was prepared to spend money in a lavish manner, it was all to the good so far as the estate was concerned.They were stupendous, these people, and after all the heir was his grandson.And how striking it was that with all this power and readiness to use it, was evidently combined, even in this beautiful young person, the clearest business sense of the situation.What was done would be for the comfort of Lady Anstruthers and the future of her son.Sir Nigel, being unable to sell either house or lands, could not undo it.
When Mr.Townlinson accompanied his visitor to her carriage with dignified politeness he felt somewhat like an elderly solicitor who had found himself drawn into the atmosphere of a sort of intensely modern fairy tale.He saw two of his under clerks, with the impropriety of middle-class youth, looking out of an office window at the dark blue brougham and the tall young lady, whose beauty bloomed in the sunshine.He did not, on the whole, wonder at, though he deplored, the conduct of the young men.But they, of course, saw only what they colloquially described to each other as a "rippin' handsome girl." They knew nothing of the interesting interview.
He himself returned to his private room in a musing mood and thought it all over, his mind dwelling on various features of the international situation, and more than once he said aloud:
"Most remarkable.Very remarkable, indeed."