"It does count, mother. I suppose Ayala is the same as other girls in that respect. I am sure I don't know why it is that she should have taken such an aversion to me. I suppose it is that she doesn't think me so much -- quite such a swell as some other men."

"One can't account for such things, Tom."

"No -- that is just it. And therefore she might come round without accounting for it. At any rate, you might try. You might tell her that it is ruining me -- that I shall have to go about wandering over all the world because she is so hardhearted."

"I don't think I could, my dear," said Lady Tringle, after considering the matter for a while.

"Why not? Is it because of the trouble?"

"No, my dear; a mother does not think what trouble she may take for her child, if any good may be done. It is not the trouble. I would walk all round England to get her for you if that would do it."

"Why not, then? At any rate you might get an answer from her. She would tell you something of her intention. Mother, I shall never go away till I know more about it than I do now. The governor says that he will turn me out. Let him turn me out. That won't make me go away."

"But he says it. If I knew that it was all over -- that every chance was gone, then I would go away."