He knew that this was not the time to attempt to
plant his protege among his own peers, and he was
content to bide his time. Strangely enough, however,
as it seemed to the little South Devon colony, now
congregated in London, Mr. Pemberton did not address
himself in his perplexity to such old friends as Lady
Vandeleur or Mrs. Hargrave, perhaps because he
knew the hostility his plans would provoke in ladies of
such aristocratic proclivities; but instead, he took
Aunt Letitia into his especial confidence — light-hearted,
liberal-minded Aunt Letitia — to whom he almost daily
brought difficulties to be met, which were the natural
products of his eccentric Quixotism. To no one more
sympathetic, more keenly alive to all the joys and
sorrows around her could Mr. Pemberton have applied.
Where it was impossible for younger women to forget
how lately George Cardew had been emancipated from
the position of a private soldier, Aunt Letitia had age,
dignity, matronhood wherewith to make it possible
for her to stoop from her higher sphere, and bridge
the gap for the dashing young adventurer by giving
him a motherly helping hand. All this she did, and
this with so much grace and tact and genuine sincerity
that George soon learnt to look to her before all woman-
kind for help in supporting the burden of the honours

14—2



212 The Vandeleurs of Red Tor.
that had been thrust upon him, and for those delicate
touches of good breeding which none but a woman's
mind can teach or a lady's manner exemplify.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
ETHEL MEETS AN OLD FRIEND.
