Having made up his mind to return to London, Anthony cautiously announced his intention to his sick niece. To this Kitty only smiled and said that her sister Victoria had shared with her his secret about Miss Salton. But Anthony took no offence at Victoria: in spite of her seriousness, she was a child. And what was he to be ashamed of?

The only person who was strongly against his departure was Lady Cranford: while Richard and Agnes accepted it calmly and understandingly, his mother reproached him with selfishness all evening and repeated again and again that Alexandra, Agnes's younger sister, was to come to Devry the other day.

– That girl is only coming to meet you! – exclaimed Lady Cranford, walking round her son's chamber, where two maids were packing his things for the journey.

– 'I did not invite her, mother. You did, and here you are making excuses for my absence," said Anthony indifferently. – I am leaving tomorrow morning and taking one of our carriages.

– My carriages, my dear," said the Countess, with an emphasis on the first word, and the phrase made the young man smile disappointedly.

– Your carriages, ma'am," he repeated coldly. – Don't worry, I will ask Richard to give me one of his carriages at once, and both of yours will stay with you.

– Well, why do you punish me so? "Ma'am"! Not Mother! Anthony, you're breaking my heart! – Lady Cranford raised her hands theatrically to heaven and shook her head. – 'And what are you going to do in London?

– To live my life and my home," her son replied. – Now, I must ask you to leave my room.

– I will not leave this place until you tell me that you will give up this ridiculous idea of going back to London! – Lady Cranford said firmly, and crossed her arms over her breast.

– As you wish, ma'am," Anthony grinned mockingly, and left his chambers to find his brother and ask for a carriage, horses, and coachman to take him to the capital.

– Well, all right! Take my carriage! But stop calling me "ma'am"! – he immediately heard his mother's voice behind him.

– Thank you, ma'am. I'll be fine," Anthony said shortly, and paid no attention to the moaning and complaints thrown back at him.

Fortunately, Richard did not persist and gave his brother what he asked without question or condition.

The next morning, after a fervent farewell to his nephews, his brother and his wife, Anthony left for London.

Lady Cranford did not come out to say good-bye to her son, but watched with eyes wet with tears of disappointment as the carriage carried him away from the estate.

"Ungrateful! How much suffering I have endured, and all for you, my dear boys! I have had to correct your mistake, but of course you don't know it, my Anthony. And you never will! Do you think I'm a bad mother? Well, that's your right, but that won't make me not worry about you!" – she thought bitterly.

This time the journey took Anthony only a fortnight, for the young, sharp horses lent by Richard easily carried the rather light, latest model carriage with thin wheels. He reached Greenhall late at night, and had to wait about a quarter of an hour for one of the servants to open the front doors for him. Ordered not to unload his suitcases, as Anthony was going to finally find an apartment and leave his father's house the next day, the young man went up to his chambers, threw off his travelling suit, and gladly climbed into his own bed, under his own warm blanket. Having slept fitfully until noon the next day, Anthony summoned his valet, who helped him to dress in an elegant travelling suit, then took a quick lunch, and, full of impatience and delight at seeing Charlotte, ordered his horse to be brought to him.

The horse, on seeing his master, greeted him with a merry neigh.

– Shall I expect you for dinner, Mr. Cranford? – Mr. Brown, the butler, asked courteously as he saw Anthony off.

– I don't think so," said the young man, and, despite his warm, long cloak, designed for the cold, windy November weather, he climbed nimbly onto the shiny back of his horse. – But I need your help, Mr. Brown. Is there no one in your circle who can help me find a cosy, spacious apartment?

– My brother William can help you with that, sir," replied Mr. Brown, without a trace of surprise on his face. He knew it was not in his nature to wonder about the affairs of gentlemen.

– Very well! Tell him I expect him at Greenhall this evening after nine o'clock. Good day, Mr. Brown! – said Anthony and let the horse gallop off at a light trot.

"It's so nice to be back in this city! I never thought I'd miss London so much!" – thought Anthony, enjoying the carriage-laden streets and the pedestrians who were always going about their business.

Young Cranford felt at home in his brother's large, free and lush estate, but it was only when he was back in his hometown, where he had been born and lived all his life, that Anthony could be happy. Happy indeed, for it was here that the beautiful sweet-voiced Miss Salton, to whom he was now on his way, dwelt.