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now,' Prudence said slowly.
    'No doubt she considers Emily too plebian a name,' he said. 'But I am bored with my relatives. Tell me about yourself. You are a far more delightful topic of conversation!'
     
    Chapter 4
     
    Prudence returned from that drive more determined than ever that Charlotte should be given every opportunity to escape from her dreadful stepmother.
    'If that unfeeling cousin refuses to help I must do it myself,' she declared to Netta. 'Although I intend to do my utmost to force him to acknowledge his responsibilities.'
    'He isn't her guardian,' Netta pointed out prosaically, 'so why should he be concerned?'
    'He inherited what should by rights have been her fortune,' Prudence explained heatedly. 'The very least he could do would be to ensure that she makes a suitable marriage. As well as introducing Charlotte to all my friends and taking her about with me as much as possible, I shall contrive to throw her into Lord Mottesford's way and force her on to his notice whether he wants it or not.'
    'That could be difficult,' Netta said slowly.
    'Why should it? He has made it plain he will call here, for he invited me to drive again tomorrow.'
    'Oh, Pru! Charlotte cannot be dragged along with you then.'
    'No, but she could be here when he calls for me.'
    'Then you ought not to desert her. Besides, he might not leave his horses to come into the house. Charlotte can hardly wait about on the doorstep until he arrives. She wouldn't agree, for one thing, because she told me she is scared of him.'
    'When did you see her?'
    'While you were out. I was with James and Harry in the square gardens, and she was taking that wretched Fifi for a walk. Not that the ghastly animal can walk far, she had to carry it back home. Why can't she have a real dog, like Bella?'
    'Bella's a hunting dog, you could not have her in town. But that's beside the point. We can ride and walk in the Park, where we are bound to meet lots of people.'
    'She doesn't ride,' Netta informed her, her voice full of astonished contempt.
    'Not ride? Not at all?' Prudence exclaimed.
    'No, it's very poor spirited of her. She says she was thrown when she began and now if she has to travel by horseback she goes by pillion.'
    'But everyone gets thrown when learning!'
    'That's what I said, but it's too late now, she won't try again. So you can't ride with her.'
    'Never mind,' Prudence said, recovering. 'We'll walk, which is probably better for meeting lots of people and chatting to them.'
    'But you'd have to rely on accidental meetings with Lord Mottesford in the Park.'
    'I could contrive, when he is with me, that Charlotte is there too. Walking in the Park when he drives me, for example.'
    'Who with? You don't want the dreadful Emma with her, that would prevent Lord Mottesford from even acknowledging her. And I can't, Miss Francis is already complaining that I don't spend enough time in the schoolroom. Papa has insisted I must spend every morning there, and have horrid piano and dancing lessons as well as doing needlework every afternoon.'
    'Aunt Lavinia would invite her here when Lord Mottesford is expected, or to go with us to the Opera, surely.'
    'It would be difficult without inviting Emma, too, and she won't do that. And as an unmarried girl you would be considered dreadfully fast if you yourself gave him such invitations.'
    Prudence remained deep in thought for a few moments, then smiled gleefully.
    'I know, I'll make Sarah do it! She is always entertaining, even though Augustus is not in town. And so is Mrs Buxton. If Sarah asks her she will help, too. And Aunt Lavinia will do it occasionally, so between us we'll contrive lots of meetings so that the wretched man feels guilty, and Charlotte will meet lots of other men, too!'
    'Will Sarah do it?'
    'Of course,' Prudence replied confidently. 'I've always been able to make Sarah do what I wanted, even though she is older than I am. And if I hint to her that Lord Mottesford is interested in me she'll be contriving