’Now tell me all about it,’ he said. ’I would not return to Welltown after the sad event, through delicacy of sentiment; I thought it might augment your trouble. So I continued my sketching tour, and really made some capital drawings. The weather, however, proved detestable, and after a while I gave up the north coast and took a flying survey of the south. And now, tell me why you are here. What can have brought you to Plymouth?’
’Captain Trecarrel, I am on my way to France, to the convent of the Sacré Coeur, where I was educated.’
’Nothing of the sort. You are going to stay in England.’
Mirelle shook her head. ’No; my mind is made up. Indeed, from the moment that I knew my husband was dead, and that I was a free agent, I had no doubt as to what I must do.’
’You are not dreaming of shutting yourself up in a convent?’
’I mean whatever you associate with rest and fragrance and holiness, with love and innocence and happiness. Some find this ideal in a family. I have never had any experience of home in this sense; the only family I have been with was that of the Trampleasures, and that in no way comes up to my ideal. I will not say more about that. No! what I mean by home is that which I know—the convent of the Sacré Coeur.’
Trecarrel rubbed his chin musingly, and then pulled his moustache. ’If you become a nun, what is to become of Welltown? You are, I presume, well off. Herring had no brothers and sisters, and that falls to you I suppose. Are you thinking of selling John Herring’s property, of calling in all your available funds, and bestowing everything on the convent and the bears of Paris?’
’I have not this thought. Orange and her mother will reside at Welltown and manage the estate, and let me have the money I need.’
’And who will check their accounts—who look after your interests?’
’Orange will send me what I want. I do not require much.’
’What did my poor friend John Herring die worth? That is—how much has come to you, Mirelle?’
’I do not know the value of the Welltown estate.’
’But I do,’ said Trecarrel, sharply. ’Six hundred nett, on the outside. Is that all?’
’No,’ answered Mirelle, ’there is a great deal more money than that. Many thousand pounds. There are the mortgages on West Wyke, and there is a mine somewhere about there, and money beside.’